Differential Association Theory

Question 1

Who proposed Differential Association Theory?

Answer 1

Sutherland

Question 2

What is Differential Association Theory?

Answer 2

A social learning theory of offending that suggests offending is learnt through association and interaction with other people, typically people of significance whom one values and spends a lot of time with in childhood, like family and friends.

Question 3

What 2 things did Sutherland claim offenders learnt from other people?

Answer 3

• Pro-crime Attitudes
• Techniques to Commit Offences

Question 4

What does Differential Association Theory suggest in terms of predicting offending behaviour?

Answer 4

That it is mathematically possible to predict how likely an individual is to commit an offence based on the frequency, intensity and duration of their exposure to deviant norms and values

Question 5

What 3 factors does Differential Association Theory argue are involved in predicting offending behaviour?

Answer 5

• The frequency an individual is exposed to pro-crime attitudes
• The intensity to which an individual is exposed to pro-crime attitudes
• The duration to which an individual is exposed to pro-crime attitudes

Question 6

What did Sutherland argue in terms of Learnt Attitudes?

Answer 6

That if the number of pro-crime attitudes acquired by a person outweighed the number of anti-crime attitudes, that then a person will go on to commit an offence

Question 7

In Differential Association Theory, can you learn various attitudes and techniques from different people?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

According to Differential Association Theory, why may individuals reoffend?

Answer 8

Due to socialisation in prison, resulting in learning from other, potentially more experienced prisoners, therefore reinforcing pro-crime attitudes and potentially acquiring new techniques

Question 9

What is a potential application of Differential Association Theory? (2 Points)

Answer 9

• The monitoring of the media to put preventive measures in place to ensure individuals aren’t being exposed to pro-crime attitudes and techniques
• The application and insertion of role models with anti-crime attitudes

Question 10

What supporting evidence is there for Differential Association Theory?

Answer 10

• Farrington’s longitudinal study, which followed 400+ boys starting age 8
• 41% went on to commit at least one offence, with the average being 5 offences
• From this, Farrington identified several risk factors, including family criminality

Question 11

What could potentially counteract supporting evidence for Differential Association Theory?

Answer 11

The argument that family criminality as a large risk factor for offending behaviour could instead be attributed to such behaviour having a biological, genetic basis

Question 12

Why is Differential Association Theory been criticised? (3 Points)

Answer 12

• It is socially sensitive, as it places the blame for offending behaviour largely on family members and friends
• It may result in self-fulfilling prophecies (an expectation or belief that manifests itself by subconsciously influencing your behaviour)
• It is environmentally deterministic

Question 13

Why has Differential Association Theory been praised?

Answer 13

It has good explanatory power and can explain a large range of crimes, including planned and non-violent crimes (e.g. tax fraud, shoplifting)

Question 14

What has the suggestion of Differential Association Theory that its possible to predict offending behaviour been criticised?

Answer 14

• It’s largely unpractical, as its difficult and time-consuming to objectively measure to extent to which an individual has been exposed to pro-crime attitudes, especially the intensity to which they have
• This suggests the theory is arguably not as scientific as it presents itself