Differential Association Theory

Question 1

Differential Association Theory

Answer 1

• SLT proposed by Sutherland (S)
• suggests individuals learn attitudes for criminal behaviour through association and interaction w/ those who have more or less favourable attitudes towards crimes

Question 2

how does DAT affect offending behaviour?

Answer 2

• influences their own criminal behaviour and attitudes
• offending depends on the criminal norms and values of the offenders social group
• more likely where groups value criminal behaviour

Question 3

how is criminality learnt?

Answer 3

two processes:
- learning attitude towards crime
- learning of specific criminal acts

Question 4

learning attitudes towards crime

Answer 4

• pro-criminal attitude = criminality
• S: if more pro than anti criminal attitudes they’ll go on to offend
• need to know frequency, intensity, and duration of their exposure to norms and values

Question 5

learning specific acts of crime

Answer 5

• taught/observe how to commit crime
• models show deviant behaviour - if successful: individual more likely to offend to achieve same reward
• would be offenders: learn techniques for committing crime

Question 6

strengths of differential association

Answer 6

Major contributions
- s introduced white collar crimes
- can change learning environment shifting blame from individuals to social factors
Research Support
- Farrington: longitudinal study of 411 males from deprived area of london - 41% convicted of at least one offence between 10-50
- supports socialisation through inappropriate role models led to criminal behaviour

Question 7

limitations of differential association

Answer 7

Ignores role of Biological factors
- genes (MAOA) may predispose to commit a crime
- diathesis stress better explanation
Methodological issues
- seek out those similar to us, diff to separate learned and inherited influences
- cannot clearly establish C&E between peer influences and criminal behaviour