Differential Assocation Theory Flashcards
1
Q
Differential Association theory
A
- It was proposed by Sutherland (1939)
- It states that offending is learned in the same way as everything else
- Offending is learnt through socialisation
- Pro-criminal attitudes/behaviours occur through association and relationships with other people- we learn our norms and values from them (including deviant ones)
- Everyone has different associations and attitudes are reinforced through acceptance and approval
2
Q
What are the 2 components of this theory
A
- Learned attitudes towards crime
- Learning of specific criminal acts
3
Q
Learned attitudes towards crime
A
- If the number of pro-criminal attitudes a person acquires outweighs the number of anti-criminal attitudes, they will go on to offend
- A person is likely to commit a crime if the exposure to criminal values has a high frequency (often), high intensity and high duration
4
Q
Learning of specific criminal acts
A
- In addition to learning about why they might want to commit a crime, criminal may also learn how to carry out crimes
- This can help explain re-offending when people are released from prison- they can learn techniques from others
- Learning can happen through observation, imitation or direct tuition
5
Q
Farmington et al (2006)- research support for differential association theory
A
- He followed 411 males (all working-class, deprived inner-city area of London)
- Longitudinal study (between 8 and 50 years old)
- By the end, 40% had at least one conviction
- Most significant childhood risk factors for later offending was family criminality, poverty and poor parenting
- This suggests that offenders will come from families and groups who have pro-criminal norms
6
Q
Evaluation of differential association theory
A
- Osborne and West (1979): found that where there is a criminal father, 40% of the sons commit a crime by 18 compared to 13% of sons on non-criminal fathers