Psychological Explanations: Differential Association Flashcards
What is meant by differential association?
The idea that criminal behaviour is learned through interaction with others.
Where can criminal behaviour be learned?
Family, friends, media, prison
What did Sutherland propose?
The conditions which are said to cause crime should be present when crime is present and absent when crime is absent.
What is meant by learned attitudes to crime?
Idea that a person will go onto offend if number of pro criminal attitudes outweigh number of anti criminal attitudes.
What is meant by learning techniques?
Learning how to commit crime e.g how to break into someone’s house.
Why might criminals reoffend, according to Sutherland?
May learn techniques for committing offences.
What is meant by culture conflict?
Where a juvenile admires someone who holds a view about the law which is different to the one of society.
What are 2 strengths of differential association theory?
- Strong explanatory power.
Sutherland recognised some crimes more prevalent in WC areas.
Shows that theory acknowledges that those who don’t grow up with criminal attitudes may still commit crime.
Therefore, useful application in describing crime. - Changed focus of offending theories.
Draws attention to offenders environment.
Shows environment plays key role.
Therefore, realistic solution as opposed to eugenics.
What is one weakness of differential association theory?
- Cannot explain individual differences.
E.g younger males more likely to offend than older males despite older males being exposed to more pro criminal attitudes.
Shows differences in stats don’t make sense according to theory.
Therefore, incomplete.
