Edwin Sutherland

In Edwin Sutherland’s 1940 article, “White Collar Criminality,” Sutherland argues that poverty is not a causing factor of criminal behavior, and a primary example of such a fact are white collar criminals themselves. He also argues that both white collar and lower class criminals learn criminal behavior, a topic called Differential Association coined by Sutherland, suggesting that the conditions in which one lives cannot be directly correlated with crime. Nonetheless, Sutherland’s central…

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…

Century criminology influencers Edwin H. Sutherland and William H. Sheldon both continued or advanced ideas of earlier pioneers in the field. Sheldon advanced Lombroso’s theories reasoning using methods he that learned from his father as a studier of birds, which he applied as a studier of human behavior. Edwin Sutherland was on the other hand, thought of as a contemporary criminologist in comparison to Sheldon who did not overtly focus on criminology. Sutherland left little ambiguity in his…

In Sociological Explanations of Crime and Deviance, Barry Cartwright (2011) emphasized that the fundamental aspect of Edwin Sutherland’s theory of differential association is that criminal behaviour is learned (p. 156). Criminal behaviour is learned through interaction and communication, but an essential part of the learning is that it occurs in groups (Sutherland & Cressey, 1985, p. 165-166). When learning about crime delinquent individuals adapt to several properties of crime in which the…

association by Edwin Sutherland. In order to achieve a better understanding of the phenomenon it is crucial to recognize the values of the historical circumstances of the 1960s; the rising urbanisation, the development of the middle class districts, and crime only considered as a lower social class problem. This essay will critically assess Sutherland’s concept’s relevance today, especially in the context of youth crime. The founder of the concept of differential association Edwin Sutherland…

Ronald Aker whom is still active within the sociological realm coined “Social Learning Theory”, for Aker wanted to update Edwin Sutherland’s “Differential Association Theory”. Ronald Aker believed in two assumptions regarding human nature. First, Aker believed that “Humans are born with a ‘blank slate’”, which is similar to the assumptions about humans held by Edwin Sutherland. Also, Aker believed that there were no real differences between individuals, but Aker believed these assumptions about…

is a theory based on the learning of criminal behavior from those around us in society. Many communities can be described to be a portrayal of social disorganization because of the prominent criminality that has existed in a particular area. Edwin Sutherland was the first sociologist to come up with the idea that crime is learned and he came up with seven principles to define his theory, Differential Association Theory. Social learning theories are theories in which all behavior is learned, even…

The Differential Association Theory is defined as, “Criminological Theory devised by Edwin Sutherland asserting that criminal behavior is behavior learned through association with others who communicate their values and attitudes.” (Walsh & Hemmens, 2014). This theory highlights the reasoning behind what makes criminal behaviors occur and why people commit criminal acts in a way that neglects psychological concepts and principles. The Social Learning Theory is defined as, “A theory designed to…

white-collar crimes/theory during the turn of the century asked the primary question of who is causing the most amounts of crime and the most amount of damage within society? Edwin Sutherland did much of the research during the rise of his theory, differential association. In addition, Geis (2010) recounts that Sutherland “reviewed major instances of financial fraud by business magnates such as the railroad entrepreneurs and monopolists. He also catalogued legal actions taken by the criminal…

Sutherland. Sutherland constituted nine principles to support his theory, some of which emphasized that criminal behavior was learned process through symbolic interactions with individuals, through the process of communication in intimate groups. However, it was the sixth principle in which Sutherland identified was the main concept behind differential association. According to Akers and Sellers, “This…