Edwin Sutherland's Differential Association Theory

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Research on Differential Association Theory Edwin Sutherland's differential association theory provides an explanation of the cause of crime due to socialization. The theory states that crime is learned through interaction with others who engage in crime much like how we learn norms and values through interaction with others in society. The differential association is being utilized to examine how non criminals need to interact with people who demonstrate criminal behaviours in order for them to develop criminal tendencies. The behaviour differential association examines is how an individuals criminal behaviours need to be learned through interaction on a social level. Differential association theory has many strengths in explaining…show more content…
The theory explains that once and individual interacts with another person who already has engaged in criminal behaviour the individual also will develop similar criminal behaviour. "Most tests of differential association theory only focus on two basic relationships in the theory: delinquent associations lead to delinquent definitions and delinquent definitions lead to delinquent behaviours."(Jaquith, 1981:272). Once a non criminal individual begins to interact with a criminal on a personal level they learn criminal tendencies and techniques. The tendencies learned makes the individual change their attitude on what is criminal and what is not criminal behaviour and that changes their perception to believing that engaging in criminal behaviour is the right way to act. The way this theory is used in research is that the examine the social interaction the criminal was making prior to becoming a criminal. By examining the interactions prior they can make conclusion to what kinds of interactions are most likely to produce criminal…show more content…
"Sutherland left most of his concepts imprecisely defined. Those who apply or test the theory must decide for themselves the meaning of "association", "excess", "definitions" and "favourableness to law violations."(Tittle, Burke&Jackson,1986:406). The differential association theory does not clearly state to what degree certain term are defined. In regards to "excess", to what degree does the theory mean excess and how can that be
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