Revisiting Recent Research on Social Learning Theory as an Etiological Proposition for Sexually Abusive Male Adolescents

Abstract

This article examines social learning theory as a construct that is applicable to adolescent sexual abusers based upon recent published research. Bandura's (1986) work is used to outline the theory and then research on victimization, aggression, criminality, pornography and personality is reviewed to assess the theory as a reasonable fit for adolescent sexually abusive behavior. Research implications are offered that argue for rigorous research methods in the field to allow for further test of this theory.

Key Words:

• Victim-to-victimizer
• transmission of abuse
• social learning theory
• social cognition