Differential association theory Flashcards
AO1
Created by sociologist Edwin Sutherland (1939) who explained criminality is
“participation in a cultural tradition and as the result of association with representatives of that culture” meaning criminal behaviour is a learnt response.
Socialisation is the process that we learn our norms and values, we are socialised by from the people around us (who we associate with) e.g. parents, friends and teachers.
Everyone is socialised differently as we all have a unique/different set of people around us, this is differential association. Criminals are socialised, but learn deviant norms and values because people they associate with have pro-criminal attitudes.
The more of these attitudes people experience the more likely they will commit crime
Behaviours are reinforced by the expectations of the people we associate with, they provide approval and disapproval. Criminals will approve of other criminals behaviour.
Specific offending techniques and behaviours are passed down to the next generation or within peer groups. (eg how to pick a lock, commit tax fraud)
Reinforcement can also influence the likelihood of offending, such as receiving material rewards or high status, especially if the rewards are greater than the rewards available for not offending.
Frequency+intensity+duration (exposure to deviant norms and values)=likelihood of offending
• Sutherland’s theory can also account for why so many convicts released from prison go on to reoffend.
• It is reasonable to assume that whilst inside prison inmates will learn specific techniques of offending from other, more experienced criminals that they may be eager to put into practice upon their release.
This learning may occur via observational learning and imitation or direction tuition from criminal peers.
Strength
Explains why certain crimes are performed by certain social groups of people, e.g.
white collar crimes (non violent crime that’s committed by high status business people). Different peer groups would have different opinions on what types of crime are acceptable, for example armed bank robbery is bad but committing fraud or corruption in business deals is okay.
Strength
practical applications to differential association theory include, not putting first time offenders in the same prison as experienced criminals who may reinforce pro-criminal attitudes and pass on techniques. Also attempting to change opinions on criminality within social groups and providing alternate rewards.
Sutherlands work was a direct rejection of racist views of “born criminals” popular in his time. People used eugenic genetic arguments of criminality to perform forced sterilization on criminals so they couldn’t pass on criminal genes.
limitation
Differential association theory cant explain why younger males are far more likely to commit crime than older males, as older males would have had more exposure to pro-criminal opinions or why most crime is committed by males and not females, when females are also socialised within criminal families.
limitation
Evidence for differential association theory is correlational, and can be explained by genetic inheritance in families. Also it may be that people who are biologically predisposed to offending seek out people with criminal values “niche picking”
