Upbringing
Learning from others
Learning from others
Theory of differential association
Sutherland (1939)
• The theory is based on the behaviourist ideas about learning
principles explaining criminality:
• The theory was presented in the form of 9 principles:
1. Criminal behaviour is learned- Not result of biology- so
crime can only be invented by influence of others
2. Criminal behaviour learned from others in a process
of communication- usually verbal form or gestures from others,
not independent of others.
3. Learning criminal behaviour occurs within intimate
personal groups- intimate personal groups have largest
influence on learning criminal behaviour, not impersonal agencies
such as media
Theory of differential association
Sutherland (1939)
4. Learning criminal behaviour includes techniques of
committing crime, rationalisations and attitudeslearning the ‘trade’ from someone and attitudes taken and excuses
made for behaving in a criminal fashion.
5. Motives & drives are learned from defining legal
codes as favourable or unfavourable- Some laws seen
as pointless or discriminatory so people feel they can flaunt them
e.g. underage drinking.
6. Delinquency occurs by learning definitions in
favour of violation of law rather than lack of
violation- Individuals become criminal due to repeated contacts
with criminal activity and lack of contact with non-criminal activity
Theory of differential association
Sutherland (1939)
7. Differential associations (contacts with criminals
over non-criminals) vary in frequency, duration,
priority & intensity- precise description of criminal behr is
possible in quantitative form by analysing the no. of contacts with
criminals (appropriate formula for this not yet developed!).
8. Learning criminal behaviour by association with
criminals is the same as any other learning-nothing
‘special’ or ‘abnormal’ about criminal behr- not biological or
pathological reasons for criminal behr.
9. Criminal behr is an expression of needs & values,
but it is not explained by those general needs and
values-stealing to obtain money is no different to needs of an
honest worker, so this NEED in itself can not explain theft.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN ORDER TO
EVALUATE THIS STUDY
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Nature – nurture
Determinism v Free Will
Reductionism v multiple causation
Crime is ‘socially constructed’?
Theory considers behaviour from socialpsychological perspective..this means?