PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS : DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY Flashcards
what does differential association theory propose
individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for offending behaviour
continue with the differential association theory in essence …
one person may associate with people who have every negative attitudes to crime
another may be exposed to more positive attitudes
what are the 3 subtopics
scientific basis
offending as a learned behaviour
socialisation in prison
SCIENTIFIC BASIS - what tasks did sutherland set himself
the task of developng aset of scientific principles that could explain all types of offennding
SCIENTIFIC BASIS - what were the scientific principles sutherland developed
the conditions which are said to cause crime should be present when crime is present
and they shoudl absent when crime is absent
SCIENTIFIC BASIS - sutherlands theory was and is designed to
discriminate between individuals who become offenders and those who don’t
whatever tehir social clas or ethnic background
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - offendinng behaviour may be acquired in the same way as
the same way as any other behaviour through the process of learning
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - how does offending behaviour learnign occur
most often through interactions with significant others who child values most and spemds the most time with
such as family and peer group
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - what does differential association suggest
- hint maths
it shoudl be possible to mathematically predict how likely it is that an individual will commit offences
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - what do we need to know how to mathematically predict how likely it is an indiviudal will commit offences
know the
-frequency
- intensity
and duration of exposure to deviant and non deviant norms and values
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - offending arise from what two factors
learned attitudes towards offending
the learning of specific offending acts/techniques
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - LEARNING ATTITUDES - When a persons socialised into a group they will be exposed to
values and attitudes towards the law
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - LEARNING ATTITUDES - when person socialised into a group theyre exposed to values and attitudes towards the law what will these values be
some values will be pro crime
others will be anti crime values
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - LEARNING ATTITUDES - what did sutherland argue about pro and anti crime attitudes int erms of weighting
if number of pro crime attitudes the perosn acquires outweights the number of anti crime attitudes
they will go onto offend
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - LEARNING ATTITUDES - the learning process is the
same
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - LEARNING ATTITUDES - the learnign process is the same whether
a person is learning offending or conformity to the law
(or anything else for that matter)
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - LEARNING TECHNIQUES -
in addition to being exposed to pro crime atittudes, the would be offender may also learn
particular techniques for comitting offences
OFFENDING AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR - LEARNING TECHNIQUES - what may learning techniques include
how to break into someones house through a locked window
or how to disable a car stereo before stealing it
SOCIALISATION IN PRISON - as well as offering an accoutn of how offending may x amongst x social groups and in x . sunderlands theory can also account for
as well as offering an account of how offending may breed amonfst specific social groups and in communties
sunderlands theory cna also account for
SOCIALISATION IN PRISON - what can sutherlands thoery also account for
why so many convicts released from prison go onto reoffend
SOCIALISATION IN PRISON - in terms of sutherlands theory or reoffending we can assume whilst inside prison , inmates learn
from other
that they may
specific techniques of offending
from other more experienced offenders
that they may put into practice upon their release
SOCIALISATION IN PRISON - learning in prison may occur through
observaitonal learning and imitiation
direct tuition from offendnig peers
LIMITAIOTN - LACKS OBJECTIVITY
Lacks objectivity – Although Sutherland promised to provide a scientific framework for crime, it is very difficult to measure the number of pro-criminal attitudes a person has been exposed to as many of the concepts cannot be operatoinalised ; Sutherland was not able to provide a measure that informed us of the point in which an individual would turn to crime i.e. the trigger point. Therefore, this undermined its scientific credibility.
LIMITATION/ counterpoint - social sensitivity
Social sensitivity: This theory may lead to discrimination by creating a stereotypes that you can be perceived as a criminal through association. As Sutherland’s theory suggests that certain groups display similar crimes, it could mean that there is a danger of making assumptions that those who come from impoverished, crime-ridden backgrounds, will inevitably turn to crime.
which ignores the fact people may not choose to offend despite influences as not everyone who is exposed to pro-crime attiudes goes on to offend
strenght - shift of focus
one strength of the differential association theory is, at the time it was first published, it changed the focus of offending explanations
Sutherland was successful in moving the emphasis away from early biological accounts of offending, such as Lombroso’s atavistic theory
as well as away from theories that explained offending as a product of individual weakness or immorality
differential association theory draws attention n to the fact that deviant social circumstances and environments may be more to blame for offending than deviant people
this approach is more desirable as it offers a more realistic solution to problem of offending instead of eugenics (biological solution) or punishment (morality solution)
strength - wider reach
further strength of the differential association theory is that it can account for offending within all sectors of society
whilst Sutherland recognised that some types of offence, such as burglary, may be clustered within certain inner-city, working class communities, it’s also the case that some offences are clustered amongst more wealthy groups in society,
Sutherland was interested in corporate offences and how this may be a feature of middle-class social groups who share deviant norms and values
shows that it’s not just the ‘lower’ class who commit offences and that the principles of differential association can be used to explain all offences
