ipl-logo

Differential Association Theory Essay

587 Words3 Pages

Differential Association Theory is a criminology theory that looks at the acts of the criminal as learned behaviors. Edwin H. Sutherland is accredited with the development of the Differential Association theory in 1939. Sutherland, a sociologist, and professor most of his life, developed Differential Association theory to explain how it was that criminals came to commit acts of deviant behavior. Under the differential association theory, there is no biological or genetic basis for criminal behavior. The learning of such behavior took place within a group already knowledgeable about and engaged in criminal behavior. The education includes how to commit crimes and all the rationalizations for doing so. Criminal behaviors are reinforced by hearing them referred to in positive terms. Respect for social norms such as following the law is held in contempt by the group. Two of the nine propositions that Sutherland came up with to explain the Differential Association theory was that criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication and the principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups. These propositions are established in the movie Blow as follows. When George and his childhood friend Tuna decided to travel to Los Angeles, a whole new world opened …show more content…

George wants to engage in this behavior because he is getting greedy and is in search of more profit. While the demand grows, George starts buying drugs directly from Mexico with the help of a few Mexican drug lords. This is his motive, George’s drug abuse and chaotic, rich lifestyle pushes him to another level where the cause of crime is no longer

Show More
Related
507 Words | 3 Pages

Although differential association can be seen in high schools it can also be seen through different groups of adults because it based on who they associate themselves with and if they involve themselves in criminal activity. Differential association theory plays a huge role in high schools because students learn to commit crimes due to the association of those around them and can influence their behaviors (Siegel,

Read More
931 Words | 4 Pages

Luis Rodriguez’s deviance supports Differential Association Theory because he joined a gang, numerous amounts of rebellious acts, and committed crimes against people because of peer pressure or the people he associated himself with. The events that took place in his life can be explained by his association with different people. Always Running supports Differential Association Theory because Luis joined a gang because of the pressure and need to protect himself and his friends. Negative deviance isn’t a natural thing, depending on who you're associated with or influenced by then you'll learn the behavior you'll exhibit. Therefore, "criminal behavior is learned.."

Read More
684 Words | 3 Pages

The CNN documentary “Homicide in Hollenbeck” centered around crime in the Hollenbeck neighborhood of Los Angeles. The documentary focused on the LAPD and the challenges and experiences they face in controlling crime in Hollenbeck. As the title suggests, the documentary focuses on violent crime, specifically homicide, and the causes of crime. The documentary implemented multiple perspectives and different points of view to paint a complete picture of the issues they were covering, such as from police officers, former gang members, family members, and a priest. Although there are many theories that could explain the crime shown, in my opinion, Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory of crime best accounts for the examples of deviance depicted in the

Read More
1115 Words | 5 Pages

According to the Differential Association theory, Kyle’s deviance act

Read More
1254 Words | 6 Pages

This theory is also based upon four concepts or elements found with social bonds: attachment, commitment, belief, and involvement, all of which contribute to criminal behavior. Social bonds are the interpersonal relationships we form with family, teachers, friends, employers and even neighbors. Self-control also plays a part in this theory because if a person does not possess self-control, the person is more prone to engaging in criminal activity because they do not want to violate social norms or hurt others. The stronger these elements are; the less likely criminal behavior takes

Read More
1004 Words | 5 Pages

This theory clearly rules out the effect of inherited or innate factors, and the last is the cognitive theory, which is based on how the perception of an individual is manifested into affecting his or her potential and capability to commit a crime. (Psychological theories of crime) Relating these theories to the case under study, it’s clear that the behaviour can be traced most times to faulty relationships in the family during the first years of

Read More
1031 Words | 5 Pages

In criminology, differential association is a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. The differential association theory is the most talked about of the learning theories of deviance. (DAT). (Sutherland) (Sociological Theories of Crime and Their Explanation on Crime , 2007) Theories of criminality are most commonly derived from human behavior.

Read More
841 Words | 4 Pages

Social process theory has several subdivisions including: social control theory, social learning theory and social reaction (labeling) theory (will only focus on social control theory). Social control theory insinuates every person has the possibility of becoming a criminal, but most people are influenced by their bonds to society. It contends that individuals obey the law and are less likely to commit crime if they have: learned self-control, attachment (to family, friends, peers, education, etc.), commitment (to school, learning, etc.), involvement (in leisure activities, sports, etc.), and belief (those that are positive). According to social control theory, an individual is more likely to be criminal/deviant if they are detached and alienated (from friends, education, family, etc.),

Read More
1336 Words | 6 Pages

Social learning theory and social bonding theory are two theories that may be compared and contrasted because they both overlap and differ. Although these theories have their similarities and differences, one theory may prove to be more convincing in terms of applying the theory to the understanding of crime and delinquency. Social learning theory refers to Akers’ theory of crime and deviance. Akers attempted to specify the mechanism and processes through which criminal learning takes place by explaining crime and deviance; he did this in such a way that the likelihood of conforming or deviant behavior based on the influence of an individual’s history of learning was accounted for. This theory was based off Sutherland’s differential association theory, which had nine propositions outlining the process by which individuals acquire attitudes favorable to criminal or delinquent behavior with the basic idea that people tend to associate with others in which they come into contact.

Read More
991 Words | 4 Pages

Fifth, the specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable. Sixth, a person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of the law. Seventh, Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity. Eighth, the process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning. Lastly, while criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those needs and values, since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.

Read More
907 Words | 4 Pages

Soon after the photo surfaced is when his father passed. According to people close to Hernandez, his fathers’ death was a turning point in his life. His interactions with the friends his dad attempted to keep him from increased and along with it, his criminal activity. In accordance with the Differential Association Theory, Aaron must have learned how to live the life of a criminal through interactions with his friends. One critique of Sutherland’s theory is that people are rational actors and are individually motivated.

Read More
130 Words | 1 Pages

Unlike the Chicago School Theory, differential association theory focuses on social groups. Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox (2014) state that Sutherland’s claims criminal behavior is learned behavior by interacting with those that accept crime as the norm and those that do not. According to Sutherland, individuals are more likely to learn criminal behavior from intimate relationships. If criminal behaviors are learned constantly from those that accept and commit criminal activities, then individuals are most likely to commit a criminal offense. On the other hand, Social Learning Theory focused on how social factors result in negative behavior.

Read More
2091 Words | 9 Pages

The theory views the offender as either a patient or a victim or both. According to this theory a person who has committed an offense is not morally responsible for the offense he or she has committed because the offense might be the product of an illness in which treatment is required; this type of person is regarded as a patient. When the offense is the product of a dysfunctional social environment the person is regarded as the victim. The advantage of this approach is that it focuses on the offenders, instead of punishing the offenders this approach focuses on repairing and treating the dysfunctional areas that the offenders are experiencing by means of behavioral therapy and other therapeutic programmes.

Read More
1883 Words | 8 Pages

Criticism of Merton’s Strain Theory One critique of the strain theory is how it overemphasis the position of the social class in regards to crime and deviance. As we know, the strain theory applies mainly to the American lower class as they struggle the most. Our lower class are faced with the lack of resources to help them reconcile their goals. However, by looking at the variation of deviant and criminal behavior, the strain theory does not adequately account for any type of crimes besides the normal street or neighborhood crimes.

Read More
1407 Words | 6 Pages

The second outcome that could be observed is that a person may receive the stimulus but choose to act completely against it or behave in a completely opposite way by being non-violent as the motivation in this case would be to restrict further violent harm. The theory also suggests that deviant behaviour also acts as a major stimulant. It states that criminal and deviant behaviour is learned in both social and non-social situations through combinations of direct reinforcement, vicarious reinforcement, explicit instruction and even direct/indirect observation. Both the probability of being exposed to certain behaviours and the nature of the reinforcement are dependent on group norms. This is seen in the case of the protagonist of the famous TV series “Dexter” where the main character reacts to a violent stimulus in his life by turning into a vigilante killer who kills for justice by subjugating the murderers and the killers to horrible painful deaths.

Read More

More about Differential Association Theory Essay

Open Document