The four main theoretical pillars of crime causation - strain theory, learning theory, control theory and labelling theory, all provide significant explanations as to what causes and prevents crime from being committed. However, for this essay, I shall be talking about the learning theory and control theory. This essay will mention what they are and compare them as well as discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

Learning theory was derived from the work of Gabriel Tarde which suggested that social learning took place through three stages of modelling. They are close contact, imitation of superiors and insertion. This theory is most suitably applied to group behaviour which involves reinforcement. For example social groups, gangs and peer groups. Where by the "reward" could come in the forms of psychological means such as "positive attention from other groups members, or material, e.g. what was stolen" (Social Learning Theory, Akers, 1973). The amount of positive attention received will dictate whether the behaviour is going to be repeated or not. The interrelationship between the individual and the group he or she belongs to is reflected by the individual's differences which could be biological, psychological or the product of other factors.

Burgess and Aker correlated Sutherland in describing a range of behaviours. According to Sutherland, "criminal bahaviour is learned according to the principles of operant conditioning". Operant bahaviour is determined by shaping, conditioning, extinction and stimulus control, all of which are 'environmental consequences'. Conditioning being creating a constant response to stimulus such as the dog and salivation experiment. Shaping provides varying reinforcement of behaviours. An example would be parents reinforcing 'baby talk' on their child when its a baby and later on, normal speech when the kid is older. When operant behaviour is not reinforces any more, that is when extinction occurs.

Sutherland also states that even in non-social situations that are characteristic, or through social interrelation where the behaviours of the people within that social group reflect criminal bahaviour are also places in which individuals learn to pick up criminal behaviours. The main part of learning criminal behaviour happens in the groups that makes up the individual's main source of reinforcements.

Albert Bandura's social learning theory explains how the learning process is carried out. Based on a real life scenario of a child called Ty, who comes home to play super mario, killing the bad guys and thereafter, watches wrestling and Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry". First there is the creation of attention where in the mind of Ty, there would be the thought - " I never thought of that". From Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" for example, we get "Retention" - "I figured out what I was doing wrong" mindset. In the film, there are lines like "Hold the weapon with both hands", "Don't jerk the trigger, squeeze it.", "Aim six inches low to compensate for the recoil". These tips give Ty and many others an idea as to how to create a dead shot. Though they may not act out what they have learnt, it would remain in their mind for the future. The final one would be "Motivation" (Why not do it?) - "It worked out fine for them". People naturally want to get what they desire for ultimately. And if they see for example others getting what they want through violence, they would follow too, believing that they could also get what they want in that manner.

Now on to control theory. As shown in the work of Travis Hirschi, social control theory fits into the right realism, neo-classical school and positivist school. It suggested that the exploitation of social learning and socialization gives rise to self -control and lessens the tendencies of delving in antisocial behaviour. This further suggests four varieties of control.

The first one is "direct" where by when wrongful behaviour is applied, the individual is threatened with some form of punishment. Likewise, with compliance, the individual is rewarded by authority figures that includes parents and family. The second would be "Indirect" where by the individual stays away from criminal behaviour by means of his or her conscience of superego. The next would be "internal" in which the individual upon fearing that his or her criminal act would negatively cause pain and disappointment to people whom they have close relationships with such as parents, refrain from criminal acts. The last would be "Control though needs of satisfaction", meaning that if the needs of the individual are all satisfied, than he or she would see no need in being indulging in criminal activity. Basically, social control theory suggests that people's relationships, commitments, values, norms, and beliefs deter them from breaking the law.

However, this theory can be problematic in the terms that most of the early research done to support it was based on self-reporting studies as there might have been varying motives for the revealing of certain information and there might have been different interpretations of the question. However, the results were deemed convincing. Though this theory aims to comprehend the ways possible to lessen the tendency of criminal behaviour developing in individuals, it fails to take into account motivational matters, simply mentioning that people could choose to be involved in a large array of activities, unless the range is limited by social learning and socialization.

One good thing about this theory is that it suggests that prevention of crime is possible if people are taught the right moral values especially if they were grounded into the minds of people when they are young. If constantly reinforced, it forms a solid foundation within them which would prevent them from falling into criminal dealings.

As for learning theory, it disregards the opportunistic nature of crime. In order to learn, the individual must watch and observe the criminal act that is being carried out. However, this theory fails to explain how the individual came about meeting people displaying criminal bahviour. Moreover, it further fails to state how people who have no form of interaction with criminals, become criminals. For example, if a child living in the rural areas steals money from his mother's purse, where did he learn such behaviour from? However, what this theory has done is explain criminal behaviour is passed on from one individual to another, which could also provide a reason for the rise in the different types of crimes. This theory just like control theory also provides a possible solution to the prevention of crime. That is people can learn to not commit crimes if they are taught the right moral values. They can always unlearn the bad behaviours.

I believe that both theories mentioned in this essay comes under Differential Association theory which states that criminal behaviour is learned and via social interrelationships. It pertains more to the learning theory where the control theory offers a solution. A solution that would help prevent criminal behaviour.