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Criminology Theories and Schools

Differential Association Theory

Social Process Theories

A theory developed by Edwin Sutherland holding that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others, particularly through association with people who favor law violation over conformity to law. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Core Claim
Criminal behavior is learned through social interaction, particularly with intimate personal groups who model and favor it. 1
Origin Year
1939 1
Standing CritiqueSourced to the subject's own account
Critics argue the theory treats offenders as independent, rational actors shaped only by environmental influence and does not account for personality traits that might affect a person's susceptibility to those influences. 2
Connections

Associated With

Racketeering, Offenses

Sutherland's theory holds that criminal techniques, motives and rationalizations are learned through interaction with intimates; the cited passage extends this explicitly to organized crime, of which racketeering is a driving offense.

Source Wikipedia: Differential Association

Developed By

Edwin Sutherland, Criminologists and Reformers
Source Edwin Sutherland (Wikipedia)

Informed

Social Learning Theory, Criminology Theories and Schools

Social learning theory integrates Sutherland's differential association theory with behavioral reinforcement principles from psychology.

Source SAGE Encyclopedia of Criminological Theory: Social Learning Theory

Informed By

Gabriel Tarde, Criminologists and Reformers
Source Wikipedia: Gabriel Tarde
White Collar Crime, Foundational Concepts

Sutherland developed differential association partly to explain the white-collar crime he had documented, arguing criminal behavior is learned like any other, regardless of social class.

Source Edwin Sutherland (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Edwin Sutherland (Wikipedia)
  • Principles of Criminology, third edition 1939
    first stating the principle of differential association in the third edition retitled Principles of Criminology (1939:4-8)
  • Lead section
    Sutherland is best known for defining white-collar crime and differential association, a general theory of crime and delinquency.
  • Developed By: Edwin Sutherland
  • Informed By: White Collar Crime
  • In Group: Learning, Neutralization and Labeling Theories, Lead sentence
    He is considered one of the most influential criminologists of the 20th century. He was a sociologist of the symbolic interactionist school of thought and is best known for defining white-collar crime and differential association, a general theory of crime and delinquency.
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: Differential Association
  • Criticism section
    One criticism leveled against this theory has to do with the idea that people can be independent, rational actors and individually motivated.
  • Associated With: Racketeering, Explanation section
    Since crime is understood to be learned behaviour, the theory is also applicable to white-collar, corporate, and organized crime.
View the Source
SAGE Encyclopedia of Criminological Theory: Social Learning Theory
SAGE PublicationsInformed: Social Learning Theory, p. 23View the Source
Wikipedia: Gabriel Tarde
Informed By: Gabriel TardeView the Source
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