Differential association is a criminological theory developed by Edwin Sutherland. Differential association theory explains that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior (Akers, 1996). In Monster, Kody Scott was an eleven year old boy who knew what he wanted a to be, a gangster. He quickly developed into one of the toughest Crip combat soldiers, gaining the name and reputation of Monster. Throughout my paper I am going to put into theory the criminal behavior of Kody Scott and his gang involvement. First I will discuss Sutherland’s theory of differential association and Hirschi’s bond theory as they relate to the criminology of gang members. Then I will provide examples from the book and discuss how the examples support these two theories. Kody Scott was born in Los Angeles, California surrounded by the gang life. He knew there was a choice to be made, to be a gang member or to live a civilian life. “Where I came from, in order to be down you had to be in”, says Kody (Shakur, 1993, p. 226). The fact of Kody being in a gang gave him a feeling of safety and power in a city of violence. He lived for having the power of life …show more content…
L. (1996). Is Differential Association/social Learning Cultural Deviance Theory?. Criminology, 34(2), 229-247. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1996.tb01204.x Caulfield, S. L. (1988). An Extension and Refinement of Hirschi's Social Control Theory: Analyzing Interactions Among the Elements of the Social Bond. Social Bond. Retrieved November 30, 2014. Jackson, E. F., Tittle, C. R., & Burke, M. J. (1986). Offense-Specific Models of the Differential Association Process. Social Problems, 33(4), 335-356. doi: 10.1525/sp.1986.33.4.03a00060 Shakur, S. (1993). Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member. New York: Grove Press. Siegel, L. J., & Welsh, B. (2012). Juvenile delinquency: Theory, practice, and law (Twelfth ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage