PSYCH explanations: Differential association theory Flashcards
what is the differential association theory?
The idea that individuals LEARN the values, attitudes and techniques for criminal behaviour through ASSOCIATION and INTERACTION with different people.
what did Sutherland say that the scientific basis is?
said “The conditions which are said to cause crime should be present when crime is present, and they should be absent when crime is absent.”
This aims to DISCRIMINATE between individuals who become CRIMINALS and those who DON’T.
what is crime as a LEARNED behaviour?
offending behaviour is acquired through LEARNING through OTHERS a child INTERACTS with.
Criminality arises from 2 factors: LEARNED attitudes towards crime and the learning of SPECIFIC criminal acts.
what are pro-criminal attitudes?
Sutherland argues that if the number of PRO criminal attitudes OUTWEIGH the number of ANTI-criminal attitudes then offending will occur. Therefore it should be MATHEMATICALLY possible to PREDICT criminality based on the frequency, intensity and duration a criminal has been exposed to deviant or NON-deviant norms.
Learning criminal acts?
Criminals need to be EXPOSED to PRO-criminal attitudes and TECHNIQUES for how to commit a crime. This explains how crime can BREED amongst specific groups and can explain RECIDIVISM as whilst in prison people may LEARN through OBSERVING or IMITATION or direct TUITION from criminal peers/inmates.
what is socialisation in prisons?
A theory that can explain RE-OFFENDING.
Inside prison inmates LEARN specific TECHNIQUES of offending from each other and put this into practise when RELEASED. This learning can be through obs, imitation or direct tuition again.
