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Differential association is when individuals base their behaviors by association and interaction with others. Learning Objectives
Key Points
Key Terms
In criminology, differential association is a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland (1883–1950) proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. Differential association theory is the most talked-about of the learning theories of deviance. This theory focuses on how individuals learn to become criminals, but it does not concern itself with why they become criminals. Differential association predicts that an individual will choose the criminal path when the balance of definitions for law-breaking exceeds those for law-abiding. This tendency will be reinforced if social association provides active people in the person’s life. The earlier in life an individual comes under the influence high status people within a group, the more likely the individual is to follow in their footsteps. This does not deny that there may be practical motives for crime. If a person is hungry but has no money, there is a temptation to steal. But the use of “needs” and “values” is equivocal. To some extent, both non-criminal and criminal individuals are motivated by the need for money and social gain. Sutherland’s Nine PointsThe principles of Sutherland’s theory of differential association can be summarized into nine key points.
An important quality of differential association theory is the frequency and intensity of interaction. The amount of time that a person is exposed to a particular definition and at what point the interaction began are both crucial for explaining criminal activity. The process of learning criminal behavior is really not any different from the process involved in learning any other type of behavior. Sutherland maintains that there is no unique learning process associated with acquiring non-normative ways of behaving. One very unique aspect of this theory is that it works to explain more than just juvenile delinquency and crime committed by lower class individuals. Since crime is understood to be learned behavior, the theory is also applicable to white-collar, corporate, and organized crime. One critique leveled against differential association stems from the idea that people can be independent, rational actors and individually motivated. This notion of one being a criminal based on his or her environment is problematic—the theory does not take into account personality traits that might affect a person’s susceptibility to these environmental influences. Criminal Silhouette: Differential association theory predicts that an individual will choose the criminal path when the balance of definitions for law-breaking exceeds those for law-abiding.7.6A: Differential Association Theory is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts. What does differential association theory emphasize?Differential association theory asserts that deviant behavior is learned through interactions with others, i.e., motives, drives, rationalization, and attitudes are formed through social and cultural transmission.
What is differential association theory quizlet?Differential association theory. people learn criminal values, skils and motives through assossiccation and interaction with different people. people most likely to influence. friends, families and peers are most likely to influence criminal behaviour because you have the most meaningful interactions with them.
Is differential association social learning theory?According to this critique, differential association/social learning theory rests on the assumption that socialization is completely successful and that cultural variability is unlimited, cannot explain individual differences in deviance within the same group and applies only to group differences, has no way of ...
Which of the following describes what is meant by differential association?Differential Association Theory: Definition
Differential association theory is when one learns criminal attitudes and behaviors through those around them. It is suggested that individuals learn to become criminals by associating with criminals.
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