UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR IN CONDITIONS OF ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEPENDENCY

Abstract

The complex determinants of individual and group behaviour in ‘developing’ societies present social scientists with a most difficult problem. They must simultaneously employ concepts developed for the analysis of individual behavior and for the comprehension of social structures. With the aim of understanding dependency behavior and personal control in Third World societies, this article outlines a synthesis of principles of social learning theory with critical sociological concepts. The practical implications of this theoretical synthesis are briefly discussed.