Differential association

• Who proposed the theory of differential association?

  Sutherland
• What does the theory of differential association suggest about offending behavior?

  It is learned from the environment through relationships and associations.
• What does the term differential association refer to?

  It refers to the different associations people have regarding criminal activities.
• Through which groups do people most often learn criminal behavior?

  Through significant others such as family and peer groups.
• What are the two factors involved in learning criminal behavior according to differential association theory?

  • Learned attitudes towards crime
  • Learning specific criminal acts
• How does socialization into a group affect a person's attitudes towards crime?

  It exposes them to values and attitudes that can be pro-crime or anti-crime.
• What happens if the number of pro-crime attitudes outweighs the anti-crime ones?

  The individual is likely to go on to offend.
• What does differential association suggest about predicting criminal behavior?

  It should be possible to mathematically predict the likelihood of committing a crime.
• What factors can be used to predict the likelihood of an individual committing a crime?

  Frequency, intensity, and duration of exposure to deviant values.
• What specific techniques do would-be offenders learn according to the theory?

  Techniques for committing specific crimes, such as breaking and entering.
• Why do many convicts go on to re-offend according to differential association theory?

  They learn specific techniques from other experienced criminals.
• What did Osborne and West (1979) find regarding criminal behavior in families?

  • 40% of sons with criminal fathers committed a crime by age 18
  • 13% of sons with non-criminal fathers committed a crime
• What alternative explanation should be considered regarding the findings of Osborne and West (1979)?

  Genetics may also explain the data.
• What did Akers et al (1979) find about the influence of peers on deviant behavior?

  Peers were the most important influence on drinking and drug behavior.
• What percentage of variance in marijuana use did Akers et al (1979) attribute to differential association, reinforcement, and imitation?

  68%
• What percentage of variance in alcohol use did Akers et al (1979) find was accounted for by differential association, reinforcement, and imitation?

  55%
• What is one strength of the differential association theory?

  • It explains the prevalence of crime in certain areas, such as:
  • Burglary in inner-city, working-class areas
  • Corporate crime in affluent areas
• What is a limitation of the differential association theory regarding individual differences?

  Not everyone exposed to criminal influences goes on to commit crime.
• What caution should be taken regarding people from impoverished backgrounds in relation to crime?

  They should not be stereotyped as 'unavoidably criminal'.
• What finding did Newburn (2002) report about the age of offenders?

  40% of offences are committed by people under 21.
• Which theory might better explain why most crimes are committed by younger people?

  Eysenck’s theory.
• What characteristic do younger people often score highly in, according to Eysenck's theory?

  Risk-taking measures.