forensic psychology: psychological explanation (DAT)

Question 1

what is meant by DAT?

Answer 1

.differential association theory

Question 2

who created the differential association theory as a psychological explanation for criminality?

Answer 2

Edwin Sutherland

Question 3

when did edward sutherland come up with the differential association theory?

Answer 3

.1924

Question 4

what did edward sutherland believe?

Answer 4

.believed that offending behaviour is learnt from our close relationships and interactions

Question 5

what do our interactions and close relationships expose us to?

Answer 5

.different values and norms

Question 6

which explanation of behaviour is associated with the differential association theory?

Answer 6

.social learning theory

Question 7

what do our interactions/close relationships teach us?

Answer 7

.pro-criminal attitudes
.anti-criminal attitudes
.criminal techniques

Question 8

what are pro-criminal attitudes?

Answer 8

.learn that offending behaviour is desirable and correct

Question 9

what are anti-criminal attitudes?

Answer 9

.learn that offending behaviour is wrong and shouldn’t happen

Question 10

what is meant by criminal techniques?

Answer 10

.learn how to commit crimes for the most gain and least risk

Question 11

what happens if you learn more pro-criminal attitudes than anti-criminal attitudes?

Answer 11

you are likely to become an offender

Question 12

what are the 2 other parts to DAT?

Answer 12

.rewards
.mathematical predictions

Question 13

what is meant by rewards?

Answer 13

.if the rewards outweigh the costs -leads to cime
.rewards could be social approval

Question 14

what is meant by mathematical predictions?

Answer 14

.if we know the intensity, frequency and duration of the pro-criminal attitudes we can produce mathematical predictions of crime

Question 15

what are the strengths to DAT as a psychological explanation to criminality?

Answer 15

.explains why crimes vary spatially -because peoples values and beliefs differ spatially
.shifts focus to external factors -labels society as dysfunctional and not people (leads to positive implications on society because it means society can be changed)

Question 16

what are the negatives to DAT as a psychological explanation to criminality?

Answer 16

.its impossible to test the frequency, intensity and duration of pro-criminal attitudes so cannot mathematically test it therefore not scientific, therefore not credible
.reductionist -doesn’t take into account other factors e.g.: roles of genetics (genes pass down the criminal behaviour not the environment)