applying social learning theory to police （社会学习理论应用到警察）.pdfVIP

Deviant Behavior, 25: 89–108, 2004 Copyright # Taylor Francis Inc. ISSN: 0163-9625 print/1521-0456 online DOI: 10.1080=01639620490251642 applying social learning theory to police misconduct Allison T. Chappell and Alex R. Piquero University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA Although numerous studies have attempted to understand the causes of various forms of police misconduct, there is still no clear theoretical explanation of police misbehavior. Akers’ social learning theory posits that peer associations, attitudes, reinforcement, and modeling are predictors of delinquency and crime in general. With this article, we seek to determine if the theory can account for police deviance. Data from a random sample of Philadelphia police officers are used to examine how officer attitudes and perceptions of peer behavior are related to citizen complaints of police misconduct. Findings suggest that social learning theory provides a useful explanation of police misconduct. Police misconduct rears its ugly head in American cities sev- eral times each decade when a high profile case exposes the often hidden phenomenon. Certain forms of police abuse are considered to be among the most serious human rights viola- tions (Human Rights Watch 1998). However, there is a lack Received 4 May 2003; accepted 25 July 2003. We thank Ron Akers and reviewers for helpful comments on earlier drafts. This research was supported in part by a grant from the National Institute of Justice (98-IJ-CX-0066). Points of view are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Department of Justice. Address correspondence to Allison T. Chappell, Center for Studies in Criminology and Law, P.O. Box 115950, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-5950. E-mail: chappell@ 89 90 A. T.