Forensics - Psychological explanation: Differential Association

Question 1

Differential Association Theory

Answer 1

Through socialisation, learning from people around them
Individuals learn the techniques & motivation for criminal behaviour
Family, friends, media, tv, teachers

Question 2

Sutherland’s theory

Answer 2

Offending is learned, passed from generation to generation
Attitudes reinforced through acceptance & approval
Through socialisation, learn pro-criminal attitudes
Norms of committing crime more normal than anti-crime
Learn through observation, imitation or direct tuition

Question 3

Farrington et al

Answer 3

Cambridge, longitudinal study
Followed 411 males from working-class deprived inner-city London areas
41% had at least one conviction
Families had offenders & poor parenting

Question 4

Evaluation of DAT

Answer 4

Advantages:
Explains more types of crime
More realistic approach (away from biological)
Osborne & West: father with criminal conviction led to 40% of sons committing a crime by 18
1/3 of prison population in UK also had relatives in prison

Disadvantages:
Doesn’t account for individual differences - peer pressure
Impossible to test
More effective for ‘smaller’ crimes
Social sensitivity - lead to discrimination by stereotypes that you can be perceived as a criminal through association