Social Explanation - Differential Association Theory Flashcards
Explain the theory…
Edwin Sutherland (1939) proposed the theory stating that offending behaviour can be explained in terms of social learning
Concept is that people vary in the frequency with which they associate with others that have more or less favourable attitudes towards crime, where the attitudes of these people can influence our own attitudes and behaviours
Explain what is learned…
Children learn attitudes towards crime, so potential criminals have learned pro-criminal attitudes, with the child also learning what types of crime is desirable and may learn about specific methods of committing crime
Explain who it is learned from…
Behaviour is learned from intimate personal groups and the wider neighbourhood, where the degree to which the community supports or opposes criminal involvement determines rate of crime in that area
Individuals/groups may not be criminals but may hold deviant attitudes or accept such attitudes
Explain how it is learned…
Suggested that the frequency, length, and personal meaning of associations with determine the degree of influence, which is likely a result of direct or indirect operant conditioning:
Direct - reinforcement through praise or punishment
Indirect - reinforcement through role models
