7.5 Forensics - Psychological Explanation: Differential Association Theory of Crime Flashcards
Differential Association Theory (D.A.T)
Criminal and deviant behaviour is learnt through social interactions and relationships with others. According to the theory, the people who become criminals do so because they identify with other criminals, thus linking to operant and classical conditioning. Learn values, attitudes techniques and motives for criminal behavior from those we spend time with e.g. family and friends.
Learned attitudes towards crime (Pro-Crime)
When in a group we are exposed to their values and attitudes sparking a social transmission of values, the attitude that is displayed most will more than likely be adopted by the person. This suggests we can predict the likelihood of someone committing a crime based on the people around them
Learning of specific criminal acts
Involves the development of techniques required to commit the crime such as delicate touch of a pick pocket in addition to why they might commit a crime and how they might do it e.g. how to spot an empty house this can also help explain reoffending as they learn techniques.
Differential Association of Crime strengths
- Farrington et al conducted a longitudinal study on working class, deprived youths from 8-50 surrounded by pro-crime. Both self-reports and official stats found 41% of these males convicted at least 1 crime supporting the theory.
- Farrington et al also found most important childhood risk was family criminality, risk taking behavior, low achievement and poverty.
- Longitudinal so accurate and reliable, temporally valid.
- Questionnaire used
- Supports the criminal justice system
Differential association of crime limitations
- Questionnaire used
- Not all crimes may be reported so lacks ecological validity/generalizability
- Reductionist
- Determinist
- Findings suggest that offending is a choice as not everyone exposed to these attitudes committed a crime later in life
