Differential association theory explaining criminality

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Scientific behaviour
Scientific principles explaining all criminal behaviour, it doesn't account for race or religion and was proposed by Sutherland
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Crime as a learnt behaviour
Offending behaviour could be aquired through learning. Through interactions between significant others such as families, peer group etc.
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What two fators contribute to learning crime?
Learning of specific criminal acts, and learned attitudes towards crime
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Procriminal attitudes- Socialisation
Socialisation into attitudes of groups some of which could be pro and some could be anti crime, if pro criminal attitudes are bigger than anti they will commit crime.
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Procriminal attitudes- Mathmatically predicting criminality
It is possible according to this theory to mathematically predict criminality, takes into account intensity, frequency and duration that you are exposed to deviant and non deviant values
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Learning criminal acts- Recividism
The theory account for recividism, whilst inside prison you can learn these techniques and learning may occur through observational learning, immitation, direct tuition, you can also learn techniques for doing crimes like breaking into cars
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Alternative explanations- Families role
Response of family is crucial to determine offending likelyhood, if the family supports criminality they pass the values onto children it is supported by the fact that recividism runs in family
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Alternative explanations- Mendick et al
Boys with criminal adoptive parents and non criminals biological parents more likely to offend than if both were non criminal.
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Individual differences
Not everyone exposed to criminal influences goes on to commit crime, stereotyping individuals who are poor and from crime ridden backgrounds are unavoidably criminal, many people decide to/ to not commit crime
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Difficulty testing it
Assumption it is scientific and a mathmatical framework you could predict offending behaviour, also built on assumption that offending behaviour occurs when pro are higher than anti crime ones. Can't test this or see when offending behaviour started
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Shift of focus- Ataviastic to individual
Account shifts from ataviastic focus to explaining it as individual weakness or immorality
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Shift of focus- Dysfunctional social circumstances
It draws attention to dysfunctional social circumstances, environments may be more to blame than dysfunctional people, desirable as it offers more realistic sollution to crime not eugenics or punishment (morality explanations)
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Explanatory power- Al types of crime
It is interested in white collar crime which is apparent in middle class who are exposed to middle class groups with pro crime deviant values the same as working class crime. Looks at all types among all classes of crime
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Card 2

Front

Crime as a learnt behaviour

Back

Offending behaviour could be aquired through learning. Through interactions between significant others such as families, peer group etc.

Card 3

Front

What two fators contribute to learning crime?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Procriminal attitudes- Socialisation

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Procriminal attitudes- Mathmatically predicting criminality

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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