Criminal Behaviour - Social - Differential association Flashcards
What does Differential Association propose and who came up with this theory?
Unlike other explanations, differential association theory argues that criminal behaviour is learnt solely from our social groups / environment.
The theory of differential association was proposed by Sutherland (1939) and states that criminals are not born but made. We all have our own definitions of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour that are usually in line with the law.
If someone’s definitions are in favour of criminal behaviour outweigh those against criminal behaviour, then the individual is likely to engage in crime
What are the three main factors of how criminal attitudes are learnt
Attitudes: A child learns attitudes towards crime and a potential criminal is someone who has learned pro-criminal attitudes thinking it is cool for instance.
Types of Crime: A child will learn which types of crime are desirable. They may learn drug use is acceptable but violent crime is not or vice versa.
Specific Methods: A child may learn techniques for committing crime, an older brother may teacher a younger sibling how to hotwire and steal a car. Or what to say when questioned by police about drug use for instance.
How does sunderland propose that someone learns these attitudes towards crime?
Sutherland would suggest we learn these through our intimate personal groups – These can be our family and peers or even our community / neighbourhood.
The intimate personal group may not even necessarily be criminal bit may just hold deviant attitudes or acceptance of crime.
What determines if we learn behaviours from intimate personal groups?
Sutherland states it comes from three factors of, frequency, duration and intensity of the associations that determines their degree of influence on a person.
What is meant by ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ operant conditioning?
Direct Operant Conditioning is where we learn through our own experiences of rewards and punishment what behaviours should and should not be repeated.
Indirect Operant Conditioning is where we learn through observing other people (role models) what behaviour should and should not be repeated.
How does this theory suggest association takes place?
Criminal behaviour is learnt rather than inherited. Criminal behaviour is learned through association with others in our intimate personal groups.
The learning includes, motives, rationalisations and attitudes, techniques this learning is directional can be either for or against the crime. If the number of favourable attitudes outweighs the unfavourable ones, then the person will become an offender.
The frequency, duration and intensity of such associations will determine the degree of influence on behaviour. Criminal behaviour is learned through the same process as any other behaviour
General need for e.g money is not sufficient explanation for crime because not everyone with those needs turns to crime
What are the two studies that support the Differential Association theory
Key Study: is Osborne & West (1982)
In this study they found that where the father had a criminal conviction, 40% of the sons had also acquired one by age 18, compared to only 13% of sons with non-criminal fathers
Key Study: Matthews (1968)
Juvenile delinquents were more likely to report having peers who engage in criminal activity than non-delinquents.
Name a strength of differential association theory
Strength 1)
The theory can be linked to a method of modification as a way to help society prevent crime. As DAT states criminal attitudes can be learnt through association, this also means they can be unlearnt through new association,
This would involve removing offenders from their pro-crime intimate personal groups and surrounding them with non-offenders or attempting to change the attitudes and behaviours of the members of their interpersonal group.
For instance, rehabilitation could be targeted towards neighbourhoods where people with more deviant motives live. This is a strength as this can be used to bring down crime rates. Keeping the public safer and saving the government millions which can be used elsewhere.
Name a strength of differential association theory
Strength 2)
it has high face validity, everyone knows through their own experiences that friends and family especially hold huge influence over own actions and we will often replicate what we see them doing, often without even knowing. So, the idea of differential association that negative interpersonal groups influence us towards deviance and crime is very easy to believe.
This is a strength of the theory as it means authorities like the police force will be more likely to consider the effects of DAT when devising methods of crime prevention.
Name a weakness of differential association theory
Weakness 1)
The theory is deterministic and underestimates the power of free will. This is because the theory suggests that someone who associates with offenders will automatically become a criminal no matter what, simply because of their association with that person.
This is a weakness as it can lead to negative ethical implications on society for instance it could lead to heavy stereotyping of individuals who come from criminal backgrounds where they could be denied opportunities on the back of it. Which in-turn could lead to more crime, as people feel they might as well commit crime if they are going to be viewed as a criminal regardless of their actions. This is called a self-fulfilling prophecy,
Name another weakness of differential association theory
Weakness 2)
The theory could be considered reductionist. Sutherland stated that associating and interacting with criminals is enough to cause criminal behaviour. However, not everyone who grows up surrounded by criminals will necessarily become one by default. On top of this, many people who do commit crime have not been brought up in a criminal environment, meaning other factors like personality or genes might also play a factor in criminality. While socialisation is undeniably a large factor in criminality it cannot be a complete theory for crime.
