Differential Association Theory from the module of Forensic Psychology has been summarised from the AQA psychology textbook for A LEVEL published by Illuminate Publishing.
Psychological Explanations: Differential Association Theory
The theory proposes that individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for criminal
behavior through association and interaction with different people.
Scientific basis
Edwin Sutherland developed a set of scientific principles that could explain all types of
offending- the conditions causing crime, should be present when crime is present, and
absent when crime is absent (1924).
His theory is designed to discriminate between individuals who become criminals and those
who do not, whatever their class or ethnic background.
Crime as a learned behavior
Offending behavior can be acquired through the process of learning.
Interactions with significant others that the child associates with such as family and peer
group.
Criminality arises from 2 factors: learned attitudes towards crime, and the learning of
specific criminal acts.
Pro-criminal attitudes
1
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anshikasaddi. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.