A2 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY - SUTHERLAND'S DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY

Question 1

Describe Sutherland’s DAT

Answer 1

• Says ppl learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for criminal beh by associating w/ different ppl
• Says crime is a learned beh and that there are 2 main things learned by criminals:
  1) pro-criminal attitudes: when no. of pro-criminal attitudes outweighs no. of anti-criminal attitudes, then person will go on to offend; says it should be mathematically predictable if someone will go on to offend if we know the no of pro/ant-criminal attitudes they’ve been exposed to via socialisation and association
  2) criminal techniques: by observing others, criminals learn the techniques of how to commit crimes

Question 2

Evaluate Sutherland’s DAT

Answer 2

(+) Good explanatory power; can explain why there are such high recidivism rates once ppl are out of prison; they learn techniques form the other criminals there and so can go on to be better at crime.
(-) However, the no of pro/anit-criminal attitudes is difficult to measure, so limited real life application and testing.
(-) Can’t explain ppl who observe/ experience lots of crime and don’t offend and vice versa
(+) Less deterministic than bio explanations so less controversial; more acceptable for the current legal system.