Differential Association Theory

Question 1

What is differential association theory

Answer 1

An explanation for offending which proposes that through interactions with others individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, motives for offending behaviour

Those who commit crimes have negative attitudes towards it, whilst those who don’t have positive attitudes

Question 2

Revise social learning theory

O
And
I
Of a
R
M
Due to
I

Meditational processes
Reinforcement

Answer 2

Observation
And
Imitation
Of a
Role
Model
Due to
Internalisation

Meditational process:
Attention, Retention, Motor Reproduction, Motivation

Reinforcement: positive, negative, vicarious reinforcement

Question 3

who was differential association theory proposed by

Answer 3

Sutherland 1920

Question 4

what does Sutherland believe offending is

Answer 4

Sutherland believes offending is learned behaviour

Question 5

what did Sutherland say about offending

Answer 5

“the conditions which are said to cause crime should be present when crime is present and they should be absent when crime is absent” - Sutherland 1924

Question 6

what does the theory discriminate between

Answer 6

the theory discriminates between those who become offenders and those who do not

Question 7

how does learning to offend occur

Answer 7

learning to offend occurs through interaction with significant others

Question 8

how do we predict how likely someone is to commit crime based on this theory

Answer 8

can predict how likely someone is to commit an offence due to their interactions

to do this we need to know the frequency, intensity, duration of exposure to deviant and non deviant norms and values

Question 9

what are the 2 factors that cause offending behaviour

Answer 9

learning attitudes

learning techniques

Question 10

what are learning attitudes and how do they cause offending behaviour

Answer 10

when a person is socialised into a group they are exposed to values and attitudes towards the law

some of these values will be pro crime and some will be anti crime

Sutherland argues that if the number of pro crime attitudes the person comes to acquire outweighs the number of anti criminal attitudes, they will go on to offend

the learning process is the same whether a person is learning offending or conforming to the law

Question 11

what are learning techniques and how do they cause offending behaviour

Answer 11

a person will learn particular techniques for committing a crime

these may include how to break into someone’s house through a locked window or how to disable a car stereo before stealing it