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Social Learning Theory and Mean Girls

“You Can’t Sit with Us”: An Application of Social Learning Theory

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Theories of Crime Through Popular Culture

Abstract

Social learning theories are focused on the learning of criminal or delinquent behaviors by juveniles. These learning processes have been linked to the close group of people with whom the juvenile associates (friends, family, etc.). The authors have used Ronald Akers’ social learning theory to analyze the movie Mean Girls (2004). Mean Girls (2004) focuses on a formerly homeschooled student’s integration into public high school. Mean Girls offers a comedic take on problems that teens face throughout high school. The movie shows the inner workings of social learning theory throughout the film and has become one of the most iconic high school movies in American society.

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Correspondence to Kayla G. Jachimowski .

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Jachimowski, K.G., Lemmon, R.J., Vanetta, R.E. (2021). Social Learning Theory and Mean Girls. In: Daly, S.E. (eds) Theories of Crime Through Popular Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54434-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54434-8_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-54433-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-54434-8

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