Differential association theory Flashcards
Who proposed the differential association theory?
Sutherland (1939)
What does the differential association theory state?
Offending is learnt through socialisation, we learn our norms and values, (even deviant ones) from our relationships with other people (friends, family etc)
What do we develop from the associations?
We develop either pro-criminal attitudes and behaviours or anti-criminal attitudes and behaviours
What reinforces our behaviours?
Expectations/attitudes of those around us (family, friends etc) act to reinforce our behaviours (criminal or otherwise) through acceptance/approval. Reinforcement also affects offending behaviour - if rewards for offending are greater than the rewards for not offending
What did Sutherland say about the balance of attitudes an individual is exposed to?
If the number of pro-criminal attitudes a person is exposed to outweighs the number of anti-criminal attitudes, then they will go on to offend
What do you need to know to be able to carry out a calculation to predict the likelihood of someone committing a crime?
The frequency, intensity and duration of their exposure to criminal and non-criminal norms and values
What are the 2 parts to the differential association theory?
- Learned attitudes towards crime
- Social transmission of values, motivations and rationalisations for committing a crime
What does learning of specific criminal acts involve?
The development of the techniques required to commit the crime, such as the delicate touch of a pickpocket
What did Farrington et al do?
The Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development was a prospective longitudinal survey of the development of offending and antisocial behaviour in 411 boys. The study began when the boys were aged 8 in 1961 and all living in a deprived, inner-city area of South London.
What were the findings from Farrington et als study?
41% were convicted of at least one offence between age 10 and age 50. The average conviction career lasted from age 19 to 28 and included five convictions. The most important childhood ‘risk factors’ at age 8-10 for later offending were measures of family criminality, daring or risk-taking, low school attainment, poverty and poor parenting.
A small proportion of participants (7%) were defined as ‘chronic offenders’ because they accounted for about half of all officially recorded offences in this study.
