everyday situations that offer opportunities for victimization present more important causal factors than social conditions such as poverty and inequality Columbine- school shooters around the world cite this case as inspiration Anders Breivik- cited Unabomber as role model in his manifesto Manson-many criminal role models from early age, moved from one reform school to another where he met many crime-prone young people, maybe influenced by mother media images of infamous murderers serve as role models military background provides effective learning experience for development of serial killer (though only 7% of serial killers had military xp) media can also be a source of learning/reinforcement stronger when someone perceives they are likely to be rewarded rather than punished for bx

the greater the actual or anticipated rewards for criminal bx the more likely the bx friends and family who are admired and respected serve as role models Sutherland and Cressey (1984)- criminal bx derives from differential association with group of intimates who reinforce positive attitudes toward and teach skills associated with criminality individuals develop propensity to kill from what they learn during their interaction with other people

Strain theory and serial killers