Differential association theory is a part of social learning theory. All the theories are learned to commit crimes in different ways. Such as differential association theory suggested that, the behavior, the techniques and other things that are need to be learned by them in the process of being a gang member.(Walsh &hemmens, 2008). They believe gang violence is an identity to be exposing them in the community. Social control theory refers to all and everyone have freedom of breaking laws. They believe behavior of gang members have been changed due to an affiliation within of a person or from an institution (Walsh &hemmens, 2008). The involvement in a group is the phenomena of them and believes that it caused a bad influence from others. Social
Luis Rodriguez’s deviance supports Differential Association Theory because he joined a gang, numerous amounts of rebellious acts, and committed crimes against people because of peer pressure or the people he associated himself with. The events that took place in his life can be explained by his association with different people. Always Running supports Differential Association Theory because Luis joined a gang because of the pressure and need to protect himself and his friends. Negative deviance isn’t a natural thing, depending on who you're associated with or influenced by then you'll learn the behavior you'll exhibit. Therefore, "criminal behavior is learned.."
Differential Association theory is a social-psychology theory that
In criminology, differential association is a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. The differential association theory is the most talked about of the learning theories of deviance. (DAT). (Sutherland) (Sociological Theories of Crime and Their Explanation on Crime , 2007) Theories of criminality are most commonly derived from human behavior.
Modelling theory also called the social learning theory can be defined as “behaviour which is learned in much the same way and such learning includes the acquisition of norms, values, and patterns of behaviour conceive to crime,
For example those who follow the code of the street, that may mean beating someone up to make themselves feel more powerful, but they had to learn that from somewhere as they can not only learn things from their direct experiences but there is also a high chance that they have seen exposed to others that do the same exact thing. Differential association theory which is a strain of social learning theory, explains that criminal behaviour, and the specific techniques that one needs to know to commit crime are learned. This relates to the code of the street because those who abide by it are not only taught the violent or criminal behaviour but are also taught the motivating factors that back up the behaviour. All the residents that follow the street code do because that is what is they are surrounded with and according to the social learning theory, which is explains that crime is learned, they watch how others deal with things and use that as a model. It is a cognitive process in which one’s attitude and their surroundings merge in an ongoing conditioning theory.
Social learning theory and social bonding theory are two theories that may be compared and contrasted because they both overlap and differ. Although these theories have their similarities and differences, one theory may prove to be more convincing in terms of applying the theory to the understanding of crime and delinquency. Social learning theory refers to Akers’ theory of crime and deviance. Akers attempted to specify the mechanism and processes through which criminal learning takes place by explaining crime and deviance; he did this in such a way that the likelihood of conforming or deviant behavior based on the influence of an individual’s history of learning was accounted for. This theory was based off Sutherland’s differential association theory, which had nine propositions outlining the process by which individuals acquire attitudes favorable to criminal or delinquent behavior with the basic idea that people tend to associate with others in which they come into contact.
For social control theory, the underlying view of human nature includes the conception of free will, thereby giving offenders the capacity of choice, and responsibility for their behavior. As such, social control theory is aligned more with the classical school of criminology than with positivist or determinist
Social learning theory combines cognitive learning theory and behavioral learning theory. Social learning theory contributes many other theories. Most crimes come from people who was influenced by their peers who also do crimes. Crimes are illegal acts against the law. The social learning theory criticisms are individuals and especially children.
Social process theory has several subdivisions including: social control theory, social learning theory and social reaction (labeling) theory (will only focus on social control theory). Social control theory insinuates every person has the possibility of becoming a criminal, but most people are influenced by their bonds to society. It contends that individuals obey the law and are less likely to commit crime if they have: learned self-control, attachment (to family, friends, peers, education, etc.), commitment (to school, learning, etc.), involvement (in leisure activities, sports, etc.), and belief (those that are positive). According to social control theory, an individual is more likely to be criminal/deviant if they are detached and alienated (from friends, education, family, etc.),
This paper draws on existing sociological research in identifying a number of theories used in explaining the formation of gangs. The theories discussed are social structure theories, social conflict theory, and social process theories all of which highlight elements of strain in different forms as they relates to gang formation. According to Merton, (as cited in Schneider & Tilly, 2004) structural theories significantly emphasize the role of social and economic structures as the causes of delinquent behavior and tend to treat criminal behavior as the result of the undesirable and dysfunctional structures (P. 3.).
Edwin Sutherland proposed the Differential Association theory to explain how these criminal behaviors can be learned and maintained by emphasizing the meanings to the experiences through inmate personal groups. When the individual possesses the knowledge of the criminal behavior, they develop "techniques of committing the crime" and the specific direction of motives. Individuals are seen as delinquents or criminals when they encourage the violation of law over the obeying of law. John Dillinger's childhood gang, the Dirty Dozen, initiated his label as a thief and also asserted his desire to possessed excessive money. In his adulthood, John continues to learn how to perfect his criminal behavior by befriended professional bank robbers, Harry Pierpont, and Homer Van Meter, while he was imprisoned.
The Classical School of Criminology believed that individual people were responsible for their actions. Jeremy Bentham, who played an important part of the Classical School of Criminology, believed that a criminal is someone who can calculate the cost and benefit of committing a crime or not committing a crime. Somewhat similar to the Classical School of Criminology and Bentham’s views is Sutherland’s view on Differential Association. Sutherland suggested that “when someone commits a crime, they do so because they view the violation of the law as more favorable than unfavorable.” As such, it appears that Differential Association involves an individual calculating and evaluating the benefits of committing a crime similar to Bentham’s view in
One of the most analyzed theories in criminology today is the social learning theory. The social learning theory derives from the differential association theory by Dr. Edward Sutherland. The social learning theory of criminology says that individuals learn from the community around them. This happens in two ways by differential association and differential reinforcement. Differential association is the theory that individuals learn values and behaviors related with crime.
The Social Learning Theory (SLT) maintains that children develop patterns of violent or delinquent behavior through imitation. For instance, if a child is being beaten at home, then the child will revert to doing so to other children at school. The Social Control Theory (SCT) says that individuals have a natural tendency towards crime and violence
Differential Association Theory is a criminology theory that looks at the acts of the criminal as learned behaviors. Edwin H. Sutherland is accredited with the development of the Differential Association theory in 1939. Sutherland, a sociologist, and professor most of his life, developed Differential Association theory to explain how it was that criminals came to commit acts of deviant behavior. Under the differential association theory, there is no biological or genetic basis for criminal behavior. The learning of such behavior took place within a group already knowledgeable about and engaged in criminal behavior.