Theories help explain drunk driving
Theories Help Explain Drunk Driving
Taylor Forté
February 5, 2014
HDFS 2400
University of Missouri
Fall 2013
ID: 333795 and Keycode: 2476
Theories Help Explain Drunk Driving Driving while intoxicated persists to be a major problem amongst teenage drivers. Although there are many precautions taken in order to prevent this type of activity, whether by the school, media or parents’, teens proceed to place themselves into these very high risk situations. These persistent behaviors drive us to look further into why teens partake in this type of activity or better yet what and who is influencing this age group. As asked by the principal I will attempt to explain this behavior using several theories of Human Development, including the theory of operant conditioning, the social learning theory and Erikson’s psychosocial theory.
Social Learning Theory This theory established by Albert Bandura, insists that by observing others, people acquire knowledge in areas such as rules, skills, strategies, beliefs, and attitudes while providing a sense of self-efficacy. Social learning theory renamed ‘social cognitive learning theory’ highlights the idea that much of human learning occurs in a social environment. According to Bandura (1971), “…new patterns of behavior can be acquired through direct experience or by observing the behavior of others” (p. 3). To apply this theory to the problematic issue of drunk driving is very simple because through recent history it is shown that our surroundings and the crowd kept have a huge impact on behavior. Although it is also suggested by Kail and Cavanaugh (2010) that all behavior is not imitated but that, “People are more likely to imitate if the person they see is popular, smart, or talented” (p.14).
So this would be a possible explanation as to why many students at the high school are participating in such behavior. If the students at the high school are encountering such things as drunk
Taylor Forté
February 5, 2014
HDFS 2400
University of Missouri
Fall 2013
ID: 333795 and Keycode: 2476
Theories Help Explain Drunk Driving Driving while intoxicated persists to be a major problem amongst teenage drivers. Although there are many precautions taken in order to prevent this type of activity, whether by the school, media or parents’, teens proceed to place themselves into these very high risk situations. These persistent behaviors drive us to look further into why teens partake in this type of activity or better yet what and who is influencing this age group. As asked by the principal I will attempt to explain this behavior using several theories of Human Development, including the theory of operant conditioning, the social learning theory and Erikson’s psychosocial theory.
Social Learning Theory This theory established by Albert Bandura, insists that by observing others, people acquire knowledge in areas such as rules, skills, strategies, beliefs, and attitudes while providing a sense of self-efficacy. Social learning theory renamed ‘social cognitive learning theory’ highlights the idea that much of human learning occurs in a social environment. According to Bandura (1971), “…new patterns of behavior can be acquired through direct experience or by observing the behavior of others” (p. 3). To apply this theory to the problematic issue of drunk driving is very simple because through recent history it is shown that our surroundings and the crowd kept have a huge impact on behavior. Although it is also suggested by Kail and Cavanaugh (2010) that all behavior is not imitated but that, “People are more likely to imitate if the person they see is popular, smart, or talented” (p.14).
So this would be a possible explanation as to why many students at the high school are participating in such behavior. If the students at the high school are encountering such things as drunk
Cited: Kail, R. V., Cavanaugh J. C. , (2013). Human Development: A Life-Span View. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Crandell, T. L., Zanden, J. W. V., & Crandell, C. H. (2009). Human Development. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill. Bandura, Albert, (1971). Social Learning Theory. New York City, NY: General Learning Corporation