According to early sociological positivists like Gabriel Tarde, criminal behavior involves a process of __________.

Gabriel Tarde, an early sociological positivist, emphasized the role of social processes in shaping human behavior, particularly through the concept of imitation. Tarde proposed that individuals learn behaviors by imitating others, which is pivotal in understanding how criminal behavior can spread within communities. He believed that people are influenced by their social environment and the actions of others, which means that crime can be seen as a learned behavior rather than solely an inherent trait or an isolated act.

In the context of his theories, imitation suggests that if a person observes criminal behavior being rewarded or normalized within their social group, they are more likely to engage in similar behaviors themselves. This underscores the importance of social interactions and cultural influences in the development of criminal behavior, aligning with the broader ideas of sociological positivism that focus on the social context of criminality.

The other options, such as conditioning, segregation, and genetic predisposition, do not capture the essence of Tarde's theory. While conditioning refers to behavioral psychology and the influence of reinforcement on behavior, segregation points to separation based on various factors rather than learning through social interaction. Genetic predisposition implies an inherent biological basis for crime, which contrasts with Tarde's focus on social learning and imitation as key mechanisms in understanding