Chapter 5 - Differential Association Theory

Question 1

What is Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory

Answer 1

• a general theory of criminal behaviour insisting behaviour is learned in a social environment

Question 2

What is DA’s Intellectual Heritage?

(dont need to memorize)

Answer 2

• raised in fundamentalist religious rural area
• learned strict critical reasoning
• Ecological and social disorganization perspectives
• Interest in culture conflict
• Interest in life history (Professional Thief - book)
• symbolic Interaction: views, approach, perspective - doesn’t rely on statistics but peoples interpretations of the world
• high crime rates within central areas –> high immigrant rates
• The life history approach was a collection of case histories from incarcerated immigrants and in a series of interviews and contacts with a professional thief
• critique of criminology

Question 3

What is DA’s Social Context

Answer 3

• Great Depression - ‘new’ criminals (those who weren’t before are now)
• Prohibition - alcohol was legal until 1919
  –> crime was a product of law
  –> organized crimes benefitted from this time - example: speak eases
• UCR statistics (new)

Question 4

Sutherland drew on 3 theories from the Chicago School

Answer 4

o Ecological/cultural Transmission (social disorganisation) theories
o Symbolic interactionist theory
o Culture conflict theory

Question 5

Sutherland found 3 Ideas from Chicago School

Answer 5

o Criminal and noncriminal behaviour are essentially the same
o Values affect behaviour
o Certain locations/people are more crime-prone

Question 6

What are DA Theory’s 8 Basic Principles

Answer 6

1.Crime is learned in the same manner as any other behaviour - ex; family
2. Crime is learned in interaction with other persons - ex; friends
3. Learning crime occurs within intimate personal groups
4. Learning crime includes techniques and learning supporting motives, rationalizations and attitudes
5. People have different views on whether to obey the law
a. This conflict of social attitudes is the basis for the differential association concept
6. A criminal perceives more benefits than unfavourable consequences to violating the law when
a. Acquaintances have definitions that are favourable toward criminality
b. They are isolated from counteracting forces
7. Differential associations vary in terms of frequency, duration, priority and intensity
8. Learning definitions favourable to criminality produces illegal behaviour

Question 7

how are differential associations established

Answer 7

o Situations that have culture conflict
o Social disorganization within those situations

Question 8

What is DA’s relationship to conflict?

Answer 8

• This diversity of values inevitably creates conflict
• The patterns of association for individuals depends on their group ‘memberships’
• Conflicting values adopted by these groups can encourage violation of law

Question 9

Put DA theory into practice

(dont need to memorize)

Answer 9

• strong correlation of delinquency and delinquent peer association - but what came first
• Differential group organization (gangs vs mafia) explains varying crime rates
• Tested by asking youth about various associations (frequency, duration, etc.) and delinquent activities – also asks about values and importance placed on associations
• Research shows:
  o Deviant friends are important in illegal drug behaviours
  o civilized friendships are more important in deviant behaviours

Question 10

What are the Classifications of DA

Answer 10

• positivist (focuses on criminals and their behaviour)
• micro theory
• a conflict theory
• theory of process