Psychological - Differential association theory

Question 1

differential association theory

Answer 1

proposes that individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for offending behaviour through association and interaction with different people

Question 2

offending as a learned behaviour

Answer 2

offending behaviour may be acquired in the same way as any other behaviour through the processes of learning - occurring through interactions with significant others who the child values most and spends most time with (family and peer groups)

Question 3

in order to predict how likely it is that an individual will commit a crime depends on

Answer 3

frequency, intensity and duration of exposure to deviant and non- deviant norms and values

Question 4

Learning attitudes

Answer 4

when a person is socialised into a group they will be exposed to values and attitudes towards the law - some might be pro-crime or anti-crime
Sutherland argues that if the number of pro-criminal attitudes the person comes to acquire outweighs the number of anti criminal attitudes, they will go on to offend

Question 5

learning techniques

Question 6

socialisation in prison

Answer 6

Sutherlands theory can also account for why so many convicts released from prison go on to reoffend. Prison inmates may learn specific techniques of offending from other more experienced offenders that they may put into practice upon their release - through observational learning and imitation or direct tuition

Question 7

+explanatory power- DAT

Answer 7

: Differential association theory is able to explain why rates of recidivism (reoffending after prison) are so high: People who are sent to prison will be surrounded by people who have positive attitudes towards crime and who will have knowledge of the methods involved in crime. These differential associations will further teach and encourage criminal behaviour, making a person sent to prison highly likely to reoffend.

Question 8

+wide reach- DAT

Answer 8

whilst Sutherland recognised that some types of offences may be clustered within certain inner-city working class communities, DAT can also be applied to more affluent groups- with particular interest in white collar crimes

Question 9

-exceptions- DAT

Answer 9

There are many examples of people raised around criminals (i.e. people with favourable differential associations for crime) who do not go on to commit a crime. Similarly, there are examples of people raised in environments with very limited or no exposure to criminals who go on to commit crimes. These examples weaken support for the theory and suggest that other factors (e.g. biological factors) are also needed for a complete explanation of criminal behaviour.