Differential Association Theory

Words: 1519
Pages: 7
Open Document
Distinguish between differential association and differential identification (a re-conceptualization of differential association theory).Identify two key criticisms of differential association theory. Then defend the theoretical postulates against the criticism. Use a concrete example to support the criticism, and articulate your position on the issue.

In an attempt to explain individual and social crime and delinquency, Edwin Sutherland developed a scheme consisting of nine propositions. This theory claims that through interaction with others we learn our own values and motives to commit or not commit criminal behavior. Rather than a biological or psychological defect of the person, proposition 1 explains how crime is a learn behavior. …show more content…
For example, the ‘popular’ group in high school may drink underage by stealing alcohol from their parents. All the kids in the ‘popular’ group, according to Sutherland’s theory, will be doing this due to differential association by order of the nine propositions. However, this does not account of the outcast kid that is only friends with other non-criminal kids, whom decides one night to steal alcohol from his parents and drink alone. His intimate group did not rationalize this decision with him, in fact, they oppose it. So, why did he do …show more content…
As a result the theory proposes, in short, that social crime is committed by communication and rationalization, within intimate groups, about whether or not breaking the law is favorable or unfavorable. The law is violated when it becomes more favorable to break the law than unfavorable. Using our examples from above we can easily tie this into primary deviance. The child that steals the chocolate may not have known the unfavorable consequences of what he/she was doing, but the favorable aspect of having chocolate to eat weighed heavier than not taking it. However, now that he/she knows the consequences or unfavorables she will never do it again. When the adolescent came home drunk it was because the favorable of finally becoming part of the cool crowd outweighed the consequences of him/her parents’ disapproval. Finally, the regular smoker only starts smoking because it is a peer group decision found favorable after weighing the favorables and unfavorables. This is also why they don't fall into secondary deviance, because it is not labeled as a
Show More

Related Documents: Differential Association Theory

Differential Association Theory Essay

Differential Association Theory The film “Blow” covers many different topics of differential association theories. The attitudes, the values, and the motives for criminal behavior is learned behavior. The film Blow, starts with a young boy named George Jung, his parents teach him to have values and live a wonderful life for himself. George’s father is a hardworking man with his own business and his mother is stay home. This young boy George at ten watches his father struggle financially and his…

Words 684 - Pages 3

Criminology: Differential Association Theory

Differential Association Theory Considered the most famous criminologist in the United States is Edwin Sutherland studied the differential association theory. Sutherland first introduced his theory in 1939 in Principles of Criminology. His last form of the theory showed up in 1947. At the point when Sutherland passed away in 1950, his long-lasting partner Donald Cressey proceeded with his work until he also passed away in 1987. Sutherland trusted that crime was a component of the learning process…

Words 1006 - Pages 5

Differential Association Theory And Social Control Theory

Two theories that stuck out to me were differential association theory and social control theory. Differential association theory suggests that drug use is influential by those whom you are close with or interact with on a daily basis. If you have family and friends who suggest that they are pro drugs you may be prone to consider using. Same with friends or people you surround yourself with. If you hang out with a certain group of people who do use drugs and you are constantly around them while they…

Words 360 - Pages 2

Theories: Psychology and Differential Association Essay

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory Freud’s psychoanalytic theory provided a new approach to the analysis and treatment of abnormal adult behavior. Freud is considered the father of psychology. Freud’s theory breaks human personality down into three modules known as the following: Id, Ego and Superego. Id is based on pleasure principle. An example is doing something that feels good, but in the back of your mind you know that it is wrong. Ego is the part of personality that helps us deal with reality…

Words 413 - Pages 2

Essay Differential association theory in criminology is the cognitive social learning process of deviant behavior and criminal skills

Differential association theory in criminology is the cognitive social learning process of deviant behavior and criminal skills. A more contemporary term would be radicalization that results in a particular action. The theory is one attempt to answer the question of why some individuals will commit criminal actions while other members of the same society will restrain themselves and operate within socially accepted parameters. In theory, these social parameters define the criminal element. That is…

Words 732 - Pages 3

Sykes And Matza's Theory Of Neutralization

and lastly if they were ever involved in narcotics. To score differential association the answers from the first four questions were calculated to find the association between the test subject and their delinquent friend. The smaller the sum of the score showed a higher connection to differential association. The tables from the study show that there is a definite relation between delinquent or deviant behavior and differential association. In table number three it shows the percentage of frequency…

Words 1544 - Pages 7

Rise Above It Now

change due to time and exposure to different situations (Akers, 1997). According to social learning theory, conforming and deviant behaviors are learned through differential reinforcement, differential association, definitions and imitation. Differential reinforcement is described by Akers (1997) as “learning through rewards and punishments” (50). Differential association refers to “direct association and interaction with others who engage in certain kinds of behaviors or express norms, values, and…

Words 592 - Pages 3

Theories Of Social Disorganization

The theories of social disorganization and differential association are two common sociological perspective that seek to help explain differentials in crime rates across spatial locations. These two perspectives have many differences and similarities in their explanation of crime variance across neighborhoods with social disorganization focusing on structural characteristics and social controls, while differential association focuses on differences in cultural norms of the community. Despite these…

Words 1971 - Pages 8

Sergeant Connor Sullivan's The Departed

More often than not, the morals and values that we live and die by are learned during our childhood. It is the way we are raised, the values we are taught and the environment that we evolve in that determines how we approach life as we grow older. And although some manage to free themselves from their childhood, many become trapped into thinking how they were raised is the only way to live life. A perfect example of someone unable to escape their upbringing is shown in my primary text, The Departed…

Words 406 - Pages 2

Social Learning Theories and Juveniles Essay

Running Head: Social Learning Theories and Juveniles Social Learning Theories Relating to Juvenile delinquency Abstract This paper takes a closer look at the social learning’s of society’s subculture that displays delinquent behavior. Using differential association I explain the learned behavior through the social environment such as role models, peer influence, and poverty stricken families. Delinquency is not biologically nor psychologically but is learned just as a person learns to obey…

Words 4015 - Pages 17