Which concept describes individuals adopting criminal behavior through observing and imitating others?

• A. Genetic predisposition
• B. Social learning
• C. Random exposure
• D. Inherent personality traits

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested here is social learning. People pick up behaviors by watching others and then imitating what they see, especially when those models are rewarded or not punished. In the context of crime, observing peers, family, or media figures commit offenses and see favorable outcomes can encourage imitation, with reinforcement shaping whether the behavior is repeated.

This is why it’s the best fit: it specifically explains learning through observation and modeling, rather than biology, chance, or fixed internal traits. Genetic predisposition would point to biology; random exposure suggests no systematic learning; inherent personality traits emphasize stable inner dispositions rather than learned behavior from others.