LT differential assocation (sunderland) Flashcards
What did Sunderland argue?
Edwin Sunderland argued that individuals learn criminal behaviour largely in their family and peer groups. It’s a result of two factors: imitation and learning attitudes
What is imitation and learned attitudes? These are the two factors
Imitation is observing the criminal skills and actions from those around them, and taking them in, copying them almost.
Learned attitudes are socialisation within a group, that exposes the individual to attitudes and values about the law, some favourable and some not. If they learn unfavourable attitudes they’re more likely to become a criminal.
Which crime in particular did Sunderland study?
He studied white collar crime, he found that group attitudes in the workplace often normalised criminal behaviour, making it easier for individuals to justify it.
Strength: what was Sunderland’s study on white collar crime? How does this support?
He studied white collar crime, he found that group attitudes in the workplace often normalised criminal behaviour, making it easier for individuals to justify it.
This therefore proves his theory, it’s replicable
Weakness: why is this theory deterministic? What did Farrington say?
Farrington suggested that poverty and low education achievement were key factors also in the study and played a part in criminality. Therefore it’s deterministic because it doesn’t look at all the factors.
Strength: what was the supporting study done by Farrington, about anti social behaviour?
Investigated anti social behaviour in 411 men in London, he found that around 45% of them went on to commit crime. He identified that the crime in the family was one of the several common traits. Therefore this study suggests that exposure to criminal attitudes and behaviour does influence people to commit crime
Weakness: is it accurate? Is everyone going to become a criminal, even if they’re exposed to criminal behaviour?
Not everyone who is exposed to criminal and anti social behaviour will become a criminal. They might learn from family and friends on how to commit crime but they may never go forward with this
