Criminal Psychology - Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning states that we learn behaviour through...

• Genetics

• Observations

• Consequences

Receiving a reward for our behaviour is known as:

• Positive punishment

• Secondary reinforcer

• Primary reinforcer

• Positive reinforcement

Carrying out the correct behaviour in order to avoid punishment is an example of:

• Negative punishment

• Negative reinforcement

• Positive reinforcement

• Positive punishment

A strength of the operant conditioning theory is that:

• It works in rehabilitating prisoners

• It explains biological reasons for becoming a criminal

• It explains how not all criminal behaviour can be explained due to consequences

• It is reductionist

Where does operant conditioning demonstrate real life application in relation to criminal behaviour?

• In hospitals

• In schools

• In the prison system

Another....................... is that operant conditioning can explain a wide range of crimes

• Strength

• Weakness

Being rewarded by with something nice that is not of survival value but makes you happier is an example of a:

• Positive reinforcement

• Postive punishment

• Secondary reinforcer

• Primary reinforcer

A man stealing food from a shop in order to feed his family would have been motivated to commit this crime due to a:

• Primary reinforcer

• Positive punishment

• Negative punishment

• Secondary reinforcer

Getting visit privileges taken away from prisoners whilst in jail because of bad behaviour is an example of:

• Positive punishment

• Negative punishment

• Positive reinforcement

• Negative reinforcement

A weakness of the explanation is that:

• It has real-life application

• It is generalisable to a wide range of criminal activities

• There may be more than one explanation and therefore difficult to falsify