Sutherland's differential association theory

Question 1

What are the key features emphasised by learning theories of crime?

Answer 1

Criminal behaviour is learned behaviour
The influence of our immediate social environment
The key role of reinforcement and punishment in the learning process

Question 2

What does Edwin Sutherland argue?

Answer 2

Individuals learn criminal behaviour largely in the family and peer groups

Question 3

What is the Imitation of criminal acts?

Answer 3

Individuals can acquire criminal skills and techniques through observing those around them

Question 4

What are learned attitudes?

Answer 4

Socialisation within the group exposes the individual to attitudes and values about the law
some of these may be favourable to the law and others unfavourable
if the individual internalises more unfavourable than favourable attitudes and values, they are more likely to become criminals

Question 5

What are the strengths of this theory?

Answer 5

Matthews found that juvenile delinquents are more likely to have friends who commit anti-social acts suggesting that they learn their behaviour from peer groups, attitudes of work groups can normalise white collar crime enabling offences to justify their behaviour

Question 6

What are the limitations of this theory?

Answer 6

not everyone who is exposed to ‘criminal influences’ become criminal as they might learn from family or peers how to commit crime but never put this into practice