Forensics - Differential association theory

Question 1

what is differential association theory

Answer 1

• through interactions with other individuals learn the values attitudes and techniques for offending behaviour

Question 2

what did Sutherland find

Answer 2

• the conditions which cause crime should be present when crime is present and they should be absent when crime is absent
• discriminate between individuals who become offenders and those who don’t

Question 3

how is offending a learned behaviour

Answer 3

Learning attitudes
- when a person is socialised into groups they will be exposed to values and attitudes towards the law
- some pro-crime and some anti-crime

Learning techniques
- offender may learn the techniques from other offenders

Question 4

what is socialisation in prison

Answer 4

• in prison many offenders would learn techniques from other offenders
• may put into practice when they are released
• learning can occur through observation, imitation or tuition

Question 5

what are the strengths

Answer 5

Shift of focus
- Sutherland shifted from Lombroso’s theory
- draws attention to social circumstances and environments
- offers a more realistic solution to explaining behaviour

Wide reach
- Sutherland looked into ‘white collar crimes’ of middle class individuals
- shifted emphasis away from just lower class committing crimes

Question 6

what are the limitations

Answer 6

Difficulty testing
- many concepts cannot be operationalised and therefore cannot be tested - cannot see the number of pro-crime attitudes someone has
- cannot know at what point the urge to offend is realised
- theory doesn’t have scientific credibility