Differential association theory

• Who is Edwin Sutherland?

  Edwin Hardin Sutherland was an American sociologist.
• Why is Edwin Sutherland considered influential?

  He is considered one of the most influential criminologists of the 20th century.
• What is the differential association theory?

  The differential association theory explains that people learn to become offenders from their environment.
• When was the differential association theory proposed and revised?

  It was proposed in 1939 and revised in 1947.
• How do individuals learn criminal behavior according to the theory?

  Individuals learn the values, attitudes, methods, and motives for criminal behavior through interactions with others.
• What mechanisms are involved in learning criminal behavior?

  The mechanisms involved include classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning theory.
• What does the term "differential association" refer to?


  It refers to the variation in the frequency with which people socialize with different groups.
• How does socializing with pro-criminal individuals affect one's views?

  The more one socializes with people who hold positive views towards crime, the more likely they are to develop pro-criminal views.
• What are the 9 key principles identified by Sutherland in the differential association theory?

  1. Criminal behavior is learned.
  2. It is learned in interaction with others through communication.
  3. Learning occurs primarily within intimate personal groups.
  4. Learning includes techniques of committing crimes and specific motives.
  5. Motives and drives are learned from definitions of legal codes.
  6. Delinquency occurs due to an excess of definitions favorable to law violation.
  7. Differential associations vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
  8. Learning criminal behavior involves mechanisms of any other learning.
  9. Criminal behavior expresses general needs and values but is not explained by them.
• When does an individual engage in criminal behavior according to the theory?

  An individual engages in criminal behavior when definitions favoring law violation exceed those that do not.
• What are examples of definitions in favor of violating the law?


  Examples include "This store is insured; stealing is a victimless crime" and "This is public land, so I can do whatever I want."
• What are examples of definitions unfavourable to violating the law?


  Examples include "Stealing is immoral" and "Violating the law is always wrong."
• What influences the source of definitions according to the theory?

  Individuals are most likely influenced by definitions provided by friends and family, but also through school and media.
• How can media influence criminal behavior?

  The media often romanticizes criminals, which can impact an individual's learning and attitudes towards crime.
• How does drill music influence young children according to the theory?

  Drill music can influence young children to commit crimes or join gangs.
• What does differential association suggest about predicting crime?

  It suggests that it may be possible to mathematically predict the likelihood of someone committing a crime based on their exposure to criminal and noncriminal norms.
• How does the theory explain reoffending?


  The theory explains that crime breeds among specific social groups and communities, leading to high reoffending rates among released prisoners.
• What mechanisms do prisoners learn from one another while in prison?

  Prisoners may learn specific techniques of offending through observational learning, imitation, or direct tuition.
• How can operant conditioning play a role in criminal behavior among released prisoners?

  Released prisoners may learn through direct and indirect operant conditioning if they are reinforced for deviant behaviors or punished for them.
• Intensity refers to how strongly individuals feel about what they have learned through differential association.
• Generalization occurs when people apply what they have learned in one situation to other situations.