Social Learning Theory suggests that people develop motivation to commit crime and develop the skills to do so by the people they are associated with. (http://sociology.about.com 2013)
An example of this would be to take a well known, low-class area, perhaps Detroit. Look at that city, as it is very well known for its criminal reputation. And in order for most residence to make a living or survive in such poor living conditions, most, as the theory would suggest, develop a new found sense of motivation to acquire certain items for personal, or even party gain.
Perhaps those criminals become drug lords, crime syndicate leaders within the area; and after a time, people who are in debt to those big time criminals will work for them, also committing crime. In another example, there could be three large criminal gangs in the area, all with 'workers' in them. Certain actions may be taken to eliminate the competition, creating more violence and crime.
While observing examples similar to the ones above, you can grasp a stronger idea of the Social Learning theory. Although, this theory may not apply to -all- cases of crime.
Further into the theory, it states that the 'differential reinforcement of crime', meaning people can teach others how to engage in crime by reinforcing or punishing certain behaviors.
It also states that crime is more likely to occur when it is infrequently punished, results in large amounts of reinforcement [money, approval, etc.]
However, that is not all the whole Social Learning theory suggests. It also tells us that over a wide range of surveys, they not believe people commit crime by teaching others to favor a crime. While most participate in 'soft drugs', gambling, and other forms of under age substance abuse.
Overall the theories meaning is crime spreads through people, by teachings. It's like a plague.
(http://criminology.wikia.com/wiki/Social_Learning_Theory)
(http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociological-Theory/a/Social-Learning-Theory.htm)
