Final answer:
Criminal behavior is learned in accordance with Social Learning Theory, which emphasizes observational learning and cognition. Theories such as Edwin Sutherland's Differential Association and Control Theory offer insights into the social contexts in which criminal behaviors are learned and enacted. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Central 8 risk/need factors refer to key elements that are considered to predict criminal behavior and recidivism. These include aspects such as history of antisocial behavior, personality pattern, family circumstances, work and school, leisure activities, and social networks. Understanding these factors can help in shaping interventions to reduce criminal behavior. Criminal behavior is posited to be learned in accordance with Social Learning Theory, as opposed to psychoanalytic, behaviorist, or cognitive theories. This aligns with the work of Albert Bandura and his social-cognitive theory, which places a significant emphasis on observational learning as well as the individual’s cognitive processes as important components of learning.
Edwin Sutherland's Differential Association Theory dovetails with the Social Learning Theory, proposing that deviant behavior is learned through social interactions and the influence of peers and society. Control Theory also adds to the understanding of deviant behavior, emphasizing the role of social bonds and disconnection from society as factors leading to crime. These theories provide a multi-faceted view of how individuals learn and enact behaviors that could be deemed criminal.