psychological explanations of crime - DAT

Question 1

differential association theory

Answer 1

proposes that individuals learn criminal behaviour through association + interaction with others.
they learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for criminal behaviours
may be learned from family, internet, peers

Question 2

scientific basis, Sutherland

Answer 2

the conditions said to cause crime should be present when crime is present, and they should be absent when crime is absent.

Question 3

2 parts to Sutherland’s theory

Answer 3

1. Pro criminal attitude
2. Learning of specific criminal acts

Question 4

1. Pro criminal attitude

Answer 4

social transmission of values, motivations and rationalisations for committing a crime
if pro crime attitudes outweigh anti crime attitudes then you may engage in crime

Question 5

2. learning of specific criminal acts

Answer 5

learning involves development of techniques required
can help explain re offending as they can learn techniques from inmates

Question 6

DAT calculation to predict likelihood of someone committing crime

Answer 6

the frequency, intensity and duration of their exposure to criminal and non - criminal values

Question 7

strength of DAT - supportive research

Answer 7

E: Farrington et al conducted longitudinal study on working class youths ages 8-50. Both self reports and official stats showed 41% of males were convicted for at least 1 crime. Also found that most important factor for future criminality were family criminality, low achievement and poverty.
C: supports DAT as shows learnt attitudes are pro crime as 41% have been convicted for a crime. Risk factors eg. family criminality show specific criminal acts can be learnt from family.
HOWEVER sample only used males - androcentric. beta bias. Don’t know if women would have same crime attitudes

Question 8

strength of DAT - theory benefits society

Answer 8

E: approach shifts emphasis of criminality away from biological explanations eg. atavistic form to the idea that socialisation and upbringing are more likely to explain crime
C: if criminal behaviour is influenced by environment, it can be unlearnt. so, prisons offer rehabilitation so inmates become anti crime and are less likely to re offend.

Question 9

limitation of DAT - reductionist

Answer 9

E: reductionism is when a theory attempts to understand behvaiour by breaking it down into 1 factor. This theory states that behaviour is only learnt from environment. Doesn’t consider other causes eg. smaller amygdala or candidate genes eg. CDH13
C: reduces understanding of behaviour. So understanding of how/why crime is committed is reduced.