5.8 Psychological Explanations Of Offending Behaviour: Differential Association

Question 1

What is the differential association theory of offending behaviour?

Answer 1

sociological theory using learning theory theory to explain offending behaviours
proposed by Edwin sutherland

Question 2

According to differential association theory what makes someone more likely to be a criminal?

Answer 2

Greater:
frequency
duration
and intensity
of criminal contacts

Question 3

What is learned from criminals in differential association theory?

Answer 3

pro-criminal attitudes

how to do crime

Question 4

Who usually teaches criminal behaviours in differential association theory?

Answer 4

intimate personal contacts and wider neighbourhood

Question 5

How is behaviour learnt in the differential association theory?

Answer 5

direct reinforcement (positive or negative)
vicarious reinforcement
modelling

Question 6

What is a belief about need for money from differential association theory?

Answer 6

Associations rather than need for money which causes crime because not all those that need money turn to crime

Question 7

What major contribution to society did Sutherland’s differential association theory bring?

Answer 7

Shift from criminal personality to social influences

he also introduced white collar crimes

Question 8

What is supporting evidence for sutherland’s differential association theory?

Answer 8

• 40% of sons with criminal fathers committed crimes
  compared to 14% of those without criminal fathers
  -68% of marijuana use predicted by differential association

Question 9

What is a limitation of supporting evidence for differential association theory?

Answer 9

methodological issues:

- correlational data

Question 10

What are limitations of the differential association theory?

Answer 10

• can’t account for all types of crime

- ignores biological factors