criminal behaviour is learned from others through things like watching and copying them.
Peoples attitudes towards crime can vary depending on who they spend time with.
If they hand around people who have positive views about crime,they will be influenced and start acting the same way.
Sutherland believed that it is possible to predict using maths if someone will turn to crime based on how often,for how long and how strongly they interact with others
A potential criminal is someone who has learnt pro-criminal attitudes.They will learn which crimes are desirable and undesirable.
For example that burglary is acceptable but violent crime isnt.
May also learn specific methods for committing crimes,some are more complicated than others
For example,robbing a corner shop compared to a bank.
Attitudes and behaviours are learnt from intimate personal groups(family and peer groups) and the wider neighbourhood.
The degree to which the local community supports crime determines the difference in crime rates for that area
Individuals or groups may not be criminals themselves but have deviant attitudes and accept such attitudes
The frequency,length and personal meaning of associations will determine the degree of influence
Direct and indirect operant conditioning .
A child may be directly reinforced through praise or punished from parents and peers
Role models that are successful in criminal activities would provide indirect reinforcement
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
1.Criminal behaviour is learned rather then inherited
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
2.It is learned through association with others
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
3.This association is with intimate personal groups
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
4.What is learnt is techniques,motives,drives,rationalisations and attitudes
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
5.This learning is directional-either for or against crime
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
6.If the number of favourable attitudes outweighs unfavourable ones the person becomes an offender
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
7.The learning experiences vary in frequency and intensity for each individual
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
8.Criminal behaviour is learned through the same processes as any other behaviour
NINE KEY PRINCIPLES
General need is not a sufficient explanation for crime because not everyone with those needs turns to crime
