Theory of Differential Association
The theory of differential association is a concept that was coined by sociologist Edward Sutherland. The theory seeks to provide an explanation as to what makes people commit crimes. According to the textbook, Edwin Sutherland’s theory of differential association is attributed to the fact that people learn criminal behavior through their relationships and communications with others, which includes members of their inner circle groups that support deviant behavior. (Vito, 2007). Sutherland’s theory of differential association manifested from an observation he made from the Chicago School of sociology. The Chicago School theory proposed that criminal activity is more prevalent in communities that …show more content…
Fifth on the list of the nine principles of differential association Sutherland wrote about is that the commission of crimes by an individual has the ability to change in regards to frequency and intensity at any time, this means that the more a person is exposed to such behaviors the more likelihood they will be compelled to participate in more crimes. Next on his list is that the learning of criminal behavior is similar to any other methods of learning. Finally, the act of unlawful behavior does not differentiate (Vito, 2007), anyone is capable of committing a crime. An example of a crime committed that correlates to the theory differential association is armed robbery. Generally, the offenders have learned the art of this violent crime by watching others. They may learn this behavior from their parents, any member of their nuclear family and anyone they consider friends or associates. These particular children know the difference between what is considered legal or illegal and still opt to commit the crime. Basically it is behavior they have chosen to accept. Since young people are generally more vulnerable than others, they are often easily influenced by their friends to commit crimes. The theory of differential association implies that most of the youth who commit crimes learn the methods of the trade from people who are older and more experienced than they are. Robbery is considered to be a violent crime because it …show more content…
According to an article in the Research Article Digest, titled Differential Association Theory: Defining the Root of Violent Crimes, The FBI’s Uniformed Crime Reporting Program, emphasizes that there are four crimes that are considered to be violent, they are: rape, robbery, murder and assault (Research Article Digest,2012). All of these violent crimes derive from the need for someone to achieve their desires.
The theory of differential association implies that the act of robbery is committed due to a need to fulfill a certain stimuli; robbery may be carried out in an effort to support a person who desires quick money, want to obtain money to purchase drugs, or just because he or she may enjoy the thrill they get from this act of violence. Since the theory of differential association is mostly comprised of people who introduced to crime and do it in a response to satisfy a stimuli, there should be a way to deter or stop those who commit these violent crimes. Since undesirable people are the ones kids learn deviant behavior from, they should be kept away from them by all means necessary. In retrospect, both the criminal and the person they are negatively influencing should both be given a chance to rehabilitate. Both could benefit from good social interactions, positive influences and group theory. Programs such as these may prevent any further deviant behavior from
The theory of differential association is a concept that was coined by sociologist Edward Sutherland. The theory seeks to provide an explanation as to what makes people commit crimes. According to the textbook, Edwin Sutherland’s theory of differential association is attributed to the fact that people learn criminal behavior through their relationships and communications with others, which includes members of their inner circle groups that support deviant behavior. (Vito, 2007). Sutherland’s theory of differential association manifested from an observation he made from the Chicago School of sociology. The Chicago School theory proposed that criminal activity is more prevalent in communities that …show more content…
Fifth on the list of the nine principles of differential association Sutherland wrote about is that the commission of crimes by an individual has the ability to change in regards to frequency and intensity at any time, this means that the more a person is exposed to such behaviors the more likelihood they will be compelled to participate in more crimes. Next on his list is that the learning of criminal behavior is similar to any other methods of learning. Finally, the act of unlawful behavior does not differentiate (Vito, 2007), anyone is capable of committing a crime. An example of a crime committed that correlates to the theory differential association is armed robbery. Generally, the offenders have learned the art of this violent crime by watching others. They may learn this behavior from their parents, any member of their nuclear family and anyone they consider friends or associates. These particular children know the difference between what is considered legal or illegal and still opt to commit the crime. Basically it is behavior they have chosen to accept. Since young people are generally more vulnerable than others, they are often easily influenced by their friends to commit crimes. The theory of differential association implies that most of the youth who commit crimes learn the methods of the trade from people who are older and more experienced than they are. Robbery is considered to be a violent crime because it …show more content…
According to an article in the Research Article Digest, titled Differential Association Theory: Defining the Root of Violent Crimes, The FBI’s Uniformed Crime Reporting Program, emphasizes that there are four crimes that are considered to be violent, they are: rape, robbery, murder and assault (Research Article Digest,2012). All of these violent crimes derive from the need for someone to achieve their desires.
The theory of differential association implies that the act of robbery is committed due to a need to fulfill a certain stimuli; robbery may be carried out in an effort to support a person who desires quick money, want to obtain money to purchase drugs, or just because he or she may enjoy the thrill they get from this act of violence. Since the theory of differential association is mostly comprised of people who introduced to crime and do it in a response to satisfy a stimuli, there should be a way to deter or stop those who commit these violent crimes. Since undesirable people are the ones kids learn deviant behavior from, they should be kept away from them by all means necessary. In retrospect, both the criminal and the person they are negatively influencing should both be given a chance to rehabilitate. Both could benefit from good social interactions, positive influences and group theory. Programs such as these may prevent any further deviant behavior from