Differential Association Reinforcement Theory Analysis

Fifty years ago, Burgess and Akers joined together to publish a theory, once known as differential association reinforcement theory, in which integrated work from both differential association and behavioral psychology. As we have come to know the theory as social learning today, it has been over twenty years since Akers et al., (1979) published the first empirical test in support of this theory (As cited in Akers and Jensen, 2007). Over that time frame, the theory has received attention from numerous scholars and continuously been elaborated and refined on numerous types of to explain various delinquent and deviant behavior. One of the most recent and advanced theoretical developments the theory has received was when Akers proposed a SSSL

Akers claimed that the main processual variables of the theory used at the micro level, differential association, differential reinforcement, definitions, and imitation, are affected indirectly by the social structures which, in turn, have a direct affect on an individuals behavior (As cited in Cullen et al., 2014). There have been four dimensions of social structure to which provide the contexts for the social learning variables to operate which include, differential social organization, differential location in the social structure, theoretically defined social structure variables, and differential social locations. These social structure dimensions discussed above, Akers noted, “provide the general learning contexts for individuals that increase or decrease the likelihood of them committing crime… immediate contexts that promote or discourage the criminal behavior of the individual…and socialization, learning environments, and immediate situations conducive to conformity or deviance” (As cited in Cullen et al., 2014, p. 147). Currently the SSSL model formulated by Akers is not a fully functioning theory and empirical research in support of of this model is still scarce and being developed. In fact, few studies have been conducted in which operationalize social learning and social structure as it was originally intended by Akers (Sellers and Winfree, 2010). Although there have been relatively few studies on this area of research, results have indicated that these studied show promise, however, as mentioned before, it is too soon to arrive any conclusions in regards to the SSSL model and it’s validity just