Differential association theory Flashcards
What is differential association theory?
An explanation for offending that proposes that individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for criminal behaviour through interactions with others.
Who developed DAT and why?
Sutherland wanted to develop a set of scientific principles that could explain all types of offending. His theory is designed to discriminate between individuals who become criminals and those who do not.
What does DAT claim about crime as a learned behaviour?
It says that behaviour may be acquired through the process of learning and that learning occurs through interactions with significant others such as the family and peer group. Criminality arises from learned attitudes towards crime as well as the learning of criminal acts.
What are pro-criminal attitudes?
When a person is socialised into a group they will be exposed to values and attitudes towards the law. Some of these will be pro-crime and others with ve anti-crime and if the number of pro-criminal attitudes outweigh the anti-criminal attitudes, they will go on to offend.
What does Sutherland propose about learning criminal acts?
Sutherland can explain why so many convicts released go on to re-offend. He assumes that whilst inside criminals learn techniques from each other and so learning occurs through imitation.
What are the strengths of DAT?
Explanatory power-It can account for crime within all sections of society.
Shift in focus-Offers a more realistic solution instead of biological explanations and blames the environment.
What are the weaknesses of DAT?
Difficulty testing-You cannot measure the number of pro-criminal attitudes
Alternative explanations-The response of the family is also important in whether an individual will offend.
Individual differences-Not everyone who is exposed to criminal influences commit crimes and so this may stereotype individuals who come from criminal backgrounds.
