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    Perspectives On Crime - Social Learning Theory SE

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    Rikiba Bain
    Edwin Sutherland proposed differential association theory in 1939. The theory argues that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others who engage in crime or view it favorably. People learn criminal norms, attitudes, techniques, and motives through communication within small groups. The more time one spends exposed to criminal behavior, especially at younger ages, the more likely they are to engage in crime themselves. Criminal behavior also occurs when opportunities arise due to the "person-situation" complex. However, the theory does not consider individual personality traits that may affect susceptibility to environmental influences.

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    Perspectives On Crime - Social Learning Theory SE

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    Rikiba Bain
    65 views14 pages
    Edwin Sutherland proposed differential association theory in 1939. The theory argues that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others who engage in crime or view it favorably. People learn criminal norms, attitudes, techniques, and motives through communication within small groups. The more time one spends exposed to criminal behavior, especially at younger ages, the more likely they are to engage in crime themselves. Criminal behavior also occurs when opportunities arise due to the "person-situation" complex. However, the theory does not consider individual personality traits that may affect susceptibility to environmental influences.

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    CAPE Sociology Unit 2 Crime and Deviance

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    Perspectives on Crime - Social Learning Theory SE

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    Edwin Sutherland proposed differential association theory in 1939. The theory argues that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others who engage in crime or view it favorably. People learn criminal norms, attitudes, techniques, and motives through communication within small groups. The more time one spends exposed to criminal behavior, especially at younger ages, the more likely they are to engage in crime themselves. Criminal behavior also occurs when opportunities arise due to the "person-situation" complex. However, the theory does not consider individual personality traits that may affect susceptibility to environmental influences.

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    65 views14 pages

    Perspectives On Crime - Social Learning Theory SE

    Uploaded by

    Rikiba Bain
    Edwin Sutherland proposed differential association theory in 1939. The theory argues that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others who engage in crime or view it favorably. People learn criminal norms, attitudes, techniques, and motives through communication within small groups. The more time one spends exposed to criminal behavior, especially at younger ages, the more likely they are to engage in crime themselves. Criminal behavior also occurs when opportunities arise due to the "person-situation" complex. However, the theory does not consider individual personality traits that may affect susceptibility to environmental influences.

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    Social Learning Theory

    Differential Association Theory –


    Edwin Sutherland (1939)
    Learning Outcomes
    At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
    • Identify the proponent of the theory.
    • Describe how criminal behaviour is learned.
    • Describe the person-situation complex.
    • State the criticisms of the theory.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    • Proposed in 1939, the Differential Association Theory remains one of the most
    popular of all learning theories of crime.
    • It is considered as a symbolic interactionist perspective.
    • It focuses on how individuals learn to become criminals but, not why they become
    criminals.
    • It argues that criminal behaviour is learned.
    • It suggests that the propensity to criminal behaviour increases if there are interactions
    that provides opportunities for learning in the person’s life.
    • Criminal behaviour is also determined by the ‘person-situation’ complex.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    Basic Assumptions
    • It argues that criminal behaviour is learned.
    • Criminal behaviour is learned through communication, interaction and association
    with persons engaged in crime or who view crime favourably.
    • A person’s environment has a huge influence on their involvement in crime.
    • It suggests that the propensity to criminal behaviour increases if there are
    interactions that provides opportunities for learning in the person’s life.
    • Criminal behaviour is also determined by the ‘person-situation’ complex.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    • Criminal behaviour is learned.
    • It is learned through interaction and communication.
    • People learn criminal behaviour and activities the same way they learn law-abiding
    behaviour.
    • This learning takes place in small intimate groups.
    • Peer groups, small gangs, families, etc.
    • People become criminal by associating with people who possess criminal norms,
    behaviours and attitudes.
    • They view the law as working against them.
    • You are a product of your environment.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    • In learning the criminal behaviour, the individual learn the techniques of
    committing the crime, specific direction of motives, drives,
    rationalizations and attitudes.
    • They learn the how to, the why, where and who of crime.
    • The specific motives and drives are learned from the definitions of the
    legal code as favourable or unfavourable.
    • The benefits of law-abiding behaviours verses non-law abiding behaviour.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    • Differential association vary in intensity, duration, frequency and priority.
    • The process of learning the criminal behaviour.
    • The more time a person is exposed to criminal behaviour, the more likely they are to
    become involved.
    • Additionally, persons who are exposed to criminal behaviour at younger ages have
    an increased chance of engaging in those behaviours.
    • In the process of learning, persons are also taught how to think about law abiding
    and non-law abiding behaviour.
    • Often non-law abiding behaviour is viewed favourably.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    • Some environments tend to encourage illegal activities more than others
    because they provide role-models who are often successful criminals or who
    benefit from crime.
    • Subcultures, low income communities, etc.
    • These people are considered as high-status people in the group.
    • The individual is likely to follow in their footsteps.
    • Learning of criminal behaviour does not always involve direct contact but,
    can be learned through books, television, other forms of media and hearing
    stories about it.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    • Criminal behaviour also occur when the situation presents itself. This is referred to as the
    person-situation complex.
    • In such cases, if the situation is suitable, the person will take advantage of it and will
    commit a crime.
    • For example, someone is driving along the highway behind an armoured truck carrying
    money, the back door opens suddenly and a bag of money falls out, the driver gets out of
    his vehicle and takes the money.
    • Ordinarily, the person would not steal, but stole the money here because there was an
    opportunity to.
    • This is considered as a crime of opportunity or a crime-committing situation.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    • Criminals like other members of society strive to achieve the goals but,
    choose to use illegal means.
    Differential Association Theory – Edwin
    Sutherland
    Criticisms
    • People are independent and rational actors and are individually motivated
    therefore, it is problematic to say that a person become criminal solely due
    to their environment.
    • The theory does not take into account personality traits that might affect a
    persons susceptibility to environmental influences.
    • Some persons are more easily influenced than others.
    Conclusion
    • Sutherland suggested that criminal behaviour is learned.
    • An individual learns criminal behaviour through their interactions, associations and communication with
    persons engaged in criminal behaviour.
    • He argued that the more frequent and intense the interaction is along with its duration, the likelihood of
    involvement in criminal activities increases.
    • In learning criminal behaviour the individual learns the attitudes, motives, rationalizations and attitudes
    of the criminal.
    • People also commit crime when the situation presents itself. This is known as the person-situation
    complex.
    • The theory as been criticized because it does consider differences in personality traits as well as the fact
    that each individual is an independent, rational actor.
    Post Lesson Activity
    • Complete the post lesson quiz on Module.
    • This quiz consists of six mixed type questions.
    References
    Chinapoo, C., James, N., & Lee-Paisley, M. (2014). CAPE Sociology. Harlow: Pearson Education
    Limited.
    Giddens, A. (1997). Sociology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
    Mustapha, N. (2013). Sociology for Caribbean Students (2nd ed.). Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers.
    LibreTexts Libraries. (2021, February). Differential Association Theory. Retrieved from Social
    Science LibreText: https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Sociology/Introduction_t
    o_Sociology/Book%3A_Sociology_(Boundless)/07%3A_Deviance_Soci al_Control_and_Crime/
    7.06%3A_The_Symbolic- Interactionalist_Perspective_on_Deviance/7.6A
    %3A_Differential_Asso ciation_Theory

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