1. APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIOR
To Criminology
Heather Palmitier

2. CRIMINOLOGY IS…
…the study of why crimes are committed.

3. CRIMINOLOGY ENCOMPASSES:
• Those who commit crime
• Those who do not commit crime
• Those who enforce crime

4. HOWEVER,
Committing crime is a behavior,
Avoiding aversive conditions is a behavior, and
Enforcing the law is a behavior
…so let’s analyze that behavior.

5. Behavior
A MUSCLE, GLANDULAR, OR NEURO-ELECTRICAL
ACTIVITY

6. THERE ARE TWO MAIN REASONS PEOPLE
COMMIT CRIME…

7. …THEY WANT TO COMMIT CRIME
In criminology, this is referred to as the
Rational Choice theory. A person
chooses to commit crime.

8. …THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO COMMIT CRIME
In criminology, this is explained by
Learning Theory, Strain Theory, or
Labeling Theory. A person feels that they
either must commit the crime, or that
crime is inevitable.

9. RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
AKA
A simple reinforcement contingency

10. Reinforcement Contingency
THE RESPONSE-CONTINGENT PRESENTATION OF A
REINFORCER RESULTING IN AN INCREASED
FREQUENCY OF THAT RESPONSE

11. REINFORCEMENT CONTINGENCY
Criminal Crime
No Crime
Commits Stimuli
Stimuli
A Crime

12. CONCURRENT CONTINGENCIES
This includes anything that the criminal
receives directly from committing the
crime.

13. Concurrent Contingencies
MORE THAN ONE CONTINGENCY OF
REINFORCEMENT OR PUNISHMENT IS AVAILABLE
AT THE SAME TIME

14. REINFORCEMENT CONTINGENCY
Criminal
No
Robs a $1,000
$1,000
Bank

15. SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY
A person commits a crime because they
see their role models commit crime.
AKA
IMITATION!

16. Imitation
THE FORM OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THE IMITATOR IS
CONTROLLED BY SIMILAR BEHAVIOR OF THE
MODEL

17. REINFORCEMENT CONTINGENCY
Imitates
No
Model’s Imitative
Imitative
Behavior Reinforcers
Reinforcers
(crime)

18. WHY SOME PEOPLE DO NOT COMMIT CRIME
Why do some people not break the law?
Because the law is a RULE that
GOVERNS our BEHAVIOR!

19. Rule-Governed Behavior
BEHAVIOR UNDER THE CONTROL OF A RULE

20. ANALOG TO AVOIDANCE CONTINGENCY
I will be I will not
I follow
given a be given
the speed
ticket a ticket
limit
soon soon

21. Avoidance Contingency
RESPONSE-CONTINGENT PREVENTION OF AN
AVERSIVE CONDITION RESULTING IN AN
INCREASED FREQUENCY OF THAT RESPONSE

22. Decreasing the Frequency of Crime
PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME
A person convicted of committing a
crime may be punished by the
application of an aversive condition after
a delay.

23. Punishment Contingency
RESPONSE-CONTINGENT PRESENTATION OF AN
AVERSIVE CONDITION (NEGATIVE REINFORCER)
RESULTING IN A DECREASED FREQUENCY OF THAT
RESPONSE

24. ANALOG TO A PUNISHMENT CONTINGENCY
Will not Will have
have aversive
Commits
aversive condition
a crime
condition after
after delay delay

25. Decreasing the Frequency of Crime
PENALTY FOR CRIME
A person may also/instead be charged
with a penalty for committing a crime.

26. ANALOG TO A PENALTY CONTINGENCY
Will not
Will lose
lose
Commits reinforcer
reinforcer
a crime after
after
delay
delay

27. ENFORCING CRIME
The people in charge of catching the
criminals are also under rule control.
They operate under pay for
performance.

28. Pay for Performance
PAY IS CONTINGENT ON SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

29. ANALOG TO AVOIDANCE OF THE LOSS OF A
REINFORCER
Will lose Will not
opp. for Officer lose opp.
large catches for large
paycheck criminal paycheck
on Friday on Friday

30. CONCLUSION
Criminology involves many behaviors
and can therefore be analyzed using
behavior analysis.

32. Music Provided By:
FIONA APPLE~ CRIMINAL