How the Social Learning Theory Explains Tax Evasion Literature review

How the Social Learning Theory Explains Tax Evasion - Literature review Example Tax evasion is in the category of white-collar crimes. According to Spicer, Michael, and Lee, White collar crimes are said to be intentional illegal activities conducted by people and institutions to maximize their profits in legal transactions.† The government is usually the victim of tax evasion. Tanzi (1999 p. 267) found that tax evasion reduces finances available to the government thus impeding current development in the country. The offender is the errant taxpayer who is trying to maximize his, hers or its profits through wrongful means.Social learning theory can clearly explain tax evasion. According to Bandura, the social learning theory deals with the socialization, that is, it concentrates more on the development of oneself, individual learning practice and the effect on the socializing individuals by society. This theory has its roots in psychology with psychologist Albert Bandura significantly molding it. Criminologists and sociologists often use this theory to compr ehend crime. Akers, Ronald, et al. (1997 p.640) thoroughly explains social learning as when the likelihood that individuals will take part in criminal and deviant behavior is increased, and the likelihood of their in compliance to the custom is decreased. They differentially interact with others who commit criminal behavior and embrace definitions auspicious to the crim. They are also quite more exposed in-person or figuratively to significant criminal or deviant models, define it as desirable or acceptable in a condition discriminative for the behavior, and have expected in the past and expect in the present-day or yet to come condition reasonably grander incentive than retribution for the behavior.