Differential Association Theory And Criminal Offences

Violent offences occur across all races, age groups, genders and financial standing. Unlike most crimes however, domestic violence and rape do not have a distinguishing characteristic to profile someone to. One to Three million children witness domestic violence every year. In turn, these adolescents are increasingly at odds to become the same violent offenders into their own adult hood, continuing the cycle. The same holds true for prominently male victims of child molestation to become offenders themselves, and for these same males, along with their female counterparts, to fall into the detrimental statistic of being abused again in the future. With this information it becomes prudent to curve the exposure and teach the understanding that

Akers (1998):
The probability that persons will engage in criminal and deviant behaviour is increased and the probability of their conforming to the norm is decreased when they differentially associate with others who commit criminal behavior and espouse definitions favorable to it, are relatively more exposed in-person or symbolically to salient criminal/deviant models, define it as desirable or justified in a situation discriminative for the behavior, and have received in the past and anticipate in the current or future situation relatively greater reward than punishment for the behavior
Differential Association Theory is understood by recognizing that behavior can be learned directly, and also indirectly through observation and experience. Individuals will be exposed in their lifetimes to an array of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, which, to a child, must be learned. Varying cultures will have different social norms first, based on their family’s beliefs, actions, and prejudices. Secondly outside factors will establish their own norms by interactions with that of friends, teachers, and acquaintances. Thirdly, experiences themselves. All of impacts on the evolution of the impressionable and ever expanding mind of the affected

Much like a child who is taught a female’s place is in the home, and a male’s place is to provide, their moral compass will point towards continuing this established norm in their own future. Unfortunately, the same holds true for children who observe violent criminal behavior firsthand. The solution for correcting this behavior is much like the same way the behavior has manifested to begin with: by intervening with teaching. It is generally understood, under the theory of differential association, that the timing, length, frequency and nature of the contact are important determinants of behaviour. That is, the greatest effect on a person’s behaviour occurs the earlier the association is made, the longer the duration of the association, the more frequently the association occurs, and the closer the association is (Akers and Sellers,