Psychological Explanations Of Offending Behaviour: Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory

Question 1

What did Sutherland (1939) propose?

Answer 1

That criminal behaviour is learnt

Question 2

What does the differential association theory suggest?

Answer 2

That an individual learns the values, attitudes, motives & techniques for criminal behaviour through associations and interactions with significant others (e.g. family & friends)

Question 3

What did Sutherland think?

Answer 3

If an an individual is exposed to more pro-crime values & attitudes than anti-crime, they will go on to offend.

Question 4

What factors can affect the likelihood of a person become a criminal (according to Sutherland)?

Answer 4

The frequency, intensity & duration of which they have been exposed to deviant attitudes and values

Question 5

What is a limitation of the differential association theory? (Difficult to test)

Answer 5

Despite Sutherland wanting to create an objective way of predicting/explaining criminal behaviour, it’s difficult to measure the frequency & intensity of a person’s exposure to pro-crime attitudes — less firm conclusions — therefore lacks scientific credibility

Question 6

What is a limitation of differential association theory? (Individual differences)

Answer 6

Suggests that offending behaviour occurs because of too many interactions with pro-crime attitudes — ignores that fact that individuals have free will and may choose not to commit crimes despite being exposed to these influences — therefore limited explanation

Question 7

What is a strength of the differential association theory? (Explanatory power)

Answer 7

DAT can explain why reoffending rates are so high — people sent to prison are surrounded by people with pro-crime attitudes — perpetuates criminal attitudes & behaviour

Question 8

What was the procedure of Farrington et al. ?

Answer 8

Longitudinal study of the development of offending and antisocial behaviour in 411 boys. Study began when boys were 8 years old in 1961 and they all lived in a deprived, inner city area of South London.

Question 9

What were the findings of Farrington et al. ?

Answer 9

41% convicted of at least 1 offence between ages 10-50. Average conviction career lasted from age 19-28 and included 5 convictions. 7% were defined as “chronic offenders” as they committed half of the recorded offences in the whole study.

Question 10

What were the key risk factors for later offending, according to Farrington et al. ?

Answer 10

At ages 8-10: family criminality, daring / risk-taking, low school attainment, poverty and poor parenting.