psychological explanations to crime: differential association Flashcards

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1
Q

Sutherland suggested that crime is not something that is inherited but is what

A

something that is learned. An individual learns techniques, attitudes ect through association and interactions with pro crime individuals.

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2
Q

what does differential association mean

A

refers to the number of connections an individual has with a criminal

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3
Q

where will the largest social influence come from

A

intimate personal groups that an individual values + spends most time with eg. family and friends.

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4
Q

what kind of correlation is there between the number of associations with a criminal and the likelihood of someone becoming a criminal

A

positive

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5
Q

Does sutherland suggest that an individual is more likely to become a criminal based on their ethnic background or class

A

no, criminal behaviour is not exclusive to people who are deprived or undereducated, if a person is exposed to behaviour seen as acceptable by a group eg. fraud then they are likely to commit the crime.

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6
Q

how did sutherland believe we could mathmatically predict how likely it is an individual will commit a crime

A

we need to know the frequency, intensity and duration of exposure to deviant and non deviant norms.

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7
Q

based on attitudes, what will determine if an individual commits a crime

A

if the number of pro crime attitudes outweighs the number of anticrime attitudes when a person is socialised, then they will go onto offend.

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8
Q

give an example of a pro crime attitude an individual might believe

A

the benefit of commiting the crime outweighs the benefit of not engaging in the crime. For example the respect gained from commiting the crime outweighs the chance of being caught.

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9
Q

in addition to pro crime attitudes what other thing might an individual learn

A

particular techniques for commiting an offence (specific criminal behaviour) eg. how to pick a lock

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10
Q

(AO3) why might an individual go on to reoffend according to sutherland

A

whilst in prison they learn pro crime attitudes and techniques for offending from more experienced others.

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11
Q

outline a study that supports this as an explanation (AO3)

A

Farrington conducted a longitudinal study of development of offending and antisocial behaviour in 411 males aged 8-50 years. All came from deprived working class families

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12
Q

What did farrington find from his study (AO3)

A

41% of males had been convicted of at least one offence between age 10-50, 7% were chronic offenders

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13
Q

what could farrington conclude (AO3)

A

a key risk factor identified as leading to criminality was family criminality. An individual was more likely to become a criminal if they had a criminal parent.

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14
Q

How does farrington’s study support a differential association theory (AO3)

A

suggests we learn crime through the process of socialisation and being exposed to criminal attitudes which we then may go on to imitate. If a child is brought up by a criminal parent then they will be exposed to pro crime attitudes, view them as normal, internalise these values, and go on to imitate the behaviour.

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15
Q

(AO3) how could sutherland’s study be socially sensitive

A

suggests reoffending will continue to be high unless an individual can change the social group they are exposed to, this suggests prisons are not appropriate places for offenders as an individuals differential associations will inceease. May learn how to commit other crimes in prison with a new social group - this creates a new social dilemma - what should be done with convicts to reduce reoffending?

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16
Q

Why is sutherland’s theory not entirely scientific. (AO3)

A

it is difficult to test the predictions of differential association. Many of the concepts are not operationalised therefore not testable. Without an ability to measure the number of pro crime values and anticrime values, we cannot know at what point will the offending career be triggered.

17
Q

outline a strength of DA in terms of holism and reductionism

A

offers a more hollistic explanation to crime as recognises a situational explanation (social group you are exposed to) and also constructivism. Dispositions may change over time as differential associations increase. More likely to adopt same cognitive views about crime as peers. This is more hollistic as encooperates both environment and cognition.