differential association theory 2

Question 1

What is it

Answer 1

• crime is learned behaviour through associating with different people
  What is learned = person socialises into particular group, exposed to their values and attitudes towards the law, maybe also their own set of morals
• E.g. if pro criminality attitude outweighs anti criminality attitude = offender - older bro says its ok to hit someone you dont like = assault
• Learnt from = offenders leartn techniques to commit particular crime
• people can leartn through their neighbourhood = degree to which community support or oppose criminal behav

Question 2

Strength?

Answer 2

Supporting evidence
- Osborne and West = criminality runs in families = 40% sons with convicted fathers d crim behav by 18 = sons learn pro criminal attitude from dad, adapt hsi moral values and act same way

• Akers = surveys 2,500 boy and girl adolsecents in US on drink/drug behav = found most important influence on this behac is from peers as imitation and reinforcement
• Shows criminal behaviour learnt through people

Question 3

Weakness?

Answer 3

Correlational/ issue with research
- Can’t assume cause and effect so can only establish connection between 2 variables
- Causation could be reversed e.g. criminals seek out other criminals explaining why its likely criminals have criminal peers
- theory lacks validity