Criminal Theories: Part 2
Page 4 of 11
Differential Association Theory by Sutherland
- Criminal behavior is developed through differential association with those who commit crime or those who are law-abiding
- Theory states:
- Criminal behavior is learned.
- It is learned in interaction with other persons.
- It occurs within intimate groups.
- Learning includes:
- Techniques of committing crime
- Motives, derives, rationalizations, and attitudes.
- Things learned can be favorable or unfavorable to committing crime.
- A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of law.
- Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
- The learning involves all the mechanisms that are involved in any other type of learning.
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Although criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by them, since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.