Differential Association Theory Overview

Differential Association Theory

• Edwin Sutherland, a prominent 20th-century criminologist, developed the Differential Association Theory.
• Heavily influenced by the Chicago School tradition.
• Chicago School believed that social organization (macro-level) impacts individuals' relationships, interactions, and behavior (micro-level).
• Delinquent values are learned and passed down through generations.
• Sutherland, in his 1947 book, "Principles of Criminology," outlined nine core principles of Differential Association Theory.
• Criminal behavior is learned through interaction and communication, primarily within intimate personal groups.
• Learning criminal behavior includes:
  • Techniques for committing crimes (ranging in complexity).
  • Motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes.
• Definitions of legal codes are learned as favorable or unfavorable, shaping an individual's perspective on the law.
• Delinquency occurs when there is an excess of definitions favorable to law violation.
• Differential association involves three key components:
  • Criminal behavior is learned.
  • This learning happens through interactions.
  • These interactions occur within intimate personal groups.
• The learning process includes the acquisition of crime commission techniques and the development of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes.
• The learned definitions of legal codes influence whether individuals view the law favorably or unfavorably.

Social Control Theory

• Travis Hirschi (1969): Proposed that stronger social bonds decrease the likelihood of delinquency.
• Stronger bonds increase the likelihood of conformity to social norms.
• This theory emphasizes the role of four key elements in fostering social control:
  • Attachment
  • Commitment
  • Involvement
  • Belief

Attachment

• Most important component of Hirschi's theory.
• Emotional connection to others.
• Individuals are more likely to conform to social norms when they value the opinions of those they are attached to.
• Attachment to conventional individuals, like parents, teachers, peers, and spouses, plays a significant role in internalizing norms.
• Weak attachments to others are associated with a reduced sense of moral constraint.
• Strong parental and peer attachments, including spousal attachments, are directly linked to reduced delinquency.

Commitment

• This element considers an individual's investment in conventionality.
• It involves an aspiration towards achieving conventional goals, commonly represented by the "American Dream."
• Individuals who are committed to conventional goals are less likely to engage in deviant behavior because they have something to lose.
• Commitment represents a rational element of social bonding, where individuals weigh the benefits of deviance against the potential risks of nonconformity.

Involvement

• This element refers to the level of an individual's participation in conventional activities.
• Increased involvement in prosocial activities, such as school, faith traditions, and community engagement, limits the time available for deviant behavior.
• Prosocial activities provide alternative outlets and can act as deterrents to delinquency.

Belief

• This element focuses on an individual's acceptance of conventional norms and values.
• Strong belief in the moral validity of laws and societal rules helps individuals conform to them.
• When belief in the moral validity of norms weakens, individuals may become more susceptible to deviant behavior.
• The strength of belief can vary across individuals and situations.
• Beliefs can change based on an individual's attachments and commitments.

Summary

• Hirschi argues that the weakening or breakdown of any of the four bonding elements increases the risk of deviance.
• Parental attachment plays a central role in the model.
• Lower levels of parental attachment can contribute to weaker attachments to school and peers, as well as lower levels of belief and involvement, thereby increasing the risk of delinquency.
• The relationship between bonding elements & delinquency is reciprocal.
• Lower levels of commitment, involvement, and belief can be consequences of deviant behavior, further reinforcing a cycle of nonconformity.

Empirical Support

• Hirschi's research found a moderate to low effect of bonding elements on delinquent behavior.
• Parental attachment emerged as the strongest predictor of reduced delinquency, regardless of parental behavior.
• Positive peer attachment and involvement with prosocial peers are linked to lower rates of delinquency. Conversely, attachments to antisocial peers increase delinquency.
• Antisocial peer attachments and involvement are associated with increased delinquency.

Explore Edwin Sutherland's Differential Association Theory, which emphasizes the learning of criminal behavior through social interactions. This quiz covers key principles outlined in Sutherland's 1947 work, 'Principles of Criminology,' and highlights the influence of social organization on individual behavior.