Differential association theory

• Differential association theory of offending

  Explanation for offending that suggests individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motivation for criminal behaviour through interaction with others
• Differential association theory


  • It is a social learning theory of crime that has stood the test of time
  • Offending is learned in the same way as any other behaviour - through relationships and associations we form with people around us
  • Through observation and imitation
• Differential association theory


  Represented a departure from previous theories that presumed criminality was caused by biological causes
• According to Sutherland


  If individual experiences repeated attitudes that are positively associated with crime, rather than negatively (in terms of punishment), then they are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour
• How a person becomes an offender

  1. Through learned attitudes

  2. Imitation of criminal acts
• Differential association


  Criminal behaviour can be learned from many different avenues of interactions and experiences, which might be family, peers or the media
• The theory is described as 'differential association'
• Pro-criminal attitudes


  Values and attitudes towards the law that are favourable to crime
• Socialisation into a group

  1. Exposure to pro-crime values and attitudes

  2. Exposure to anti-crime values and attitudes
• Number of pro-criminal attitudes outweigh number of anti-criminal attitudes

  People are more likely to offend
• Differential association


  Theory that the likelihood of an individual committing crime can be mathematically predicted based on the frequency, intensity and duration of their exposure to deviant/criminal attitudes
• Individual favours stories of mafia kingpins (e.g. The Sopranos, The Godfather)


  Exposure to media messages that favour breaking the law, which could contribute to individual's choice to engage in criminal behaviour
• Media romanticizing criminals


  • TV show The Sopranos
  • The Godfather films
• Research support: Bandura and the Bobo Doll
• Differential Association Theory - A theory developed by Edwin Sutherland which suggests that criminal behaviour is learned through interaction with others.
• Individual differences


  • This theory does not account for individual differences. Some people are much more susceptible (easily led) to the influence of others. Therefore the theory neglects to consider the role of temperament and personality.
• Environmental reductionism


  • Criminality is complex, explanations that reduce offending behaviour to an environmental level may be inappropriate and overly simplistic. There is evidence for learnt criminal behaviours, however, we cannot rule out the role of biology. For example, the biological approach would argue abnormalities in certain genes cause aggressive behaviour and ultimately criminal behaviour. Even within Bandura's research there is evidence for a biological cause for criminal behaviour, males were found to replicate aggressive behaviour more often than females.
• Explaining individual offending


  • Differential theory runs into problems when required to explain criminal behaviour on an individual level. For example, it is not clear why some people raised in persistent contact with criminal influences do not go on to commit offences. Therefore this theory is not a full explanation of offending behaviour.
• Explaining developmental patterns of offending


  • Differential association theory does not adequately explain the developmental pattern of offending. Criminal behaviour in adolescence is common, 40% of offences are committed by people under the age of 21. However, offending declines rapidly after adolescence: many youths do not remain offenders in adulthood. It is not clear how differential association theory could explain this pattern - the biological approach does (neural explanations).