SOCIAL: Differential Assosiation Theory Flashcards
What did Sutherland suggest about behaviour?
Sutherland 1939 proposed that criminal behaviour is learned through social interaction- people are socialised into a life of crime. We all have our own definitions of acceptable behaviour and unacceptable behaviour- usually in line with the law. This theory suggests that if definitions in favour of criminal behaviour outweigh those against criminal behaviour, then the individual is more likely to commit a crime
What is learned?
-Attitudes: a child learns attitudes towards crime Eg. Whether it is desirable or not. A potential criminal is someone who has learned pro criminal attitudes
-Types of crime: a child with which types of crime are desirable Eg. May learn Burnley is acceptable but violent crime isn’t
-Specific methods: a child may get taught specific methods for committing crime, Eg. An older brother may teach them how to rob a car and hot wire it
Who is it learned from?
Attitudes and behvaiours are learned from intimate personal groups such as family and friends. They are also learned from wider community. The degree to which local community supports or opposes criminal involvement determines the difference in crime rates from one area to another. The individuals or social groups may not be criminals themselves, but they may still hold favourable attitudes or non favourable attitudes
How is it learned?
People vary in the frequency with which they associate with others who have more or less favourable attitudes towards crime, and these attitudes influence their own attitudes and behaviour. If you mix with people who have favourable attitudes towards crime, you will be influenced by them and have a postive attitude towards crime. The frequency, duration and intensity of this assossiation determines their degree of influence.
We can also consider the role of operant conditioning in how criminal behaviour is learned
What is the difference between direct and indirect operant conditioning?
Direct operant conditioning happens directly to the person, and is direct reinforcement, whereas indirect operant conditioning ouccours when a person observes another person being rewarded/punished for an action, also known as vicarious reinforcement
Eg of how learning could take place through direct operant conditioning
In terms of criminal behvaiour, if a person hot wires and steals a car for somebody else, they may receive the reward of Half of the money when they sell the car, leading a person to continue to repeat behaviour
Eg of a person learning through indirect operant conditioning
In terms of crime, if a person witnesses another get loads of money for hot wiring a car and stealing it, they may imitate this behvaiour to feel and receive the same rewards
What was Sutherland 9 key principles
Sutherland proposed 9 key principles on which the theory of differential assossiation is based
1. Criminal behvaiour is learned not inherited
2. It is learned through assossiation with other
3. This assossiation is with intimate personal groups
4.The learning includes motives, rationalisations and attitudes & specific techniques
5. This learning is direction-al either for or against crime
6. If the number of favourable attitudes outweighs unfavourable ones then a person becomes an offender
7. The frequency duration and intensity of such associations will determine the degree of influence on behaviour
8.Criminal behaviour is learned through the same process as any other behvaiour
9. General ‘need’ (eg, money) is not a suffient enough explanation for crime because not everyone with those needs turn to crime
What was the methods of modification?
DAT can be applied to methods of rehabilitation because criminal behvaiour can be learnt, this means that the behvaiour can be unlearnt, however the individuals interpersonal group has to be changed in order for the method to be successful
