Free Essays on Differential Association

The Theory of Differential Association and Gangs Theory is a systematic explanation of a phenomenon; it organizes known facts and allows us to predict new facts, and permits us to exercise a degree of control over the phenomenon. One important theory was first offered nearly three-quarters of a century ago by Edwin Sutherland, the theory of differential association. Edwin H. Sutherland was born August 13, 1883 in Gibbon, Nebraska and died in 1950. He studied in Ottawa, Kansas and Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1904 he received the B.A. degree from Grand Island College and in 1906 he entered graduate school at the University of Chicago from which he received his doctorate (FSU). There he changed his major from history to sociology. The University of Chicago?s approach to the study of crime emphasized that human behavior was determined by social and physical environmental factors, rather than genetic or personal characteristics. (FSU). Differential Association theory was Sutherland?s major sociological contribution to criminology. Sutherland argued that people become criminal if they are exposed to statements, which express approval of crime more often than disapproval. Statements approving crime will vary in their power to influence depending on the status and the importance of the person who spoke them, and the age of the listener. This approach explains deviant behavior as a result of family and friendship influences. The theory of Differential Association states that deviant behavior is largely the result of associating with other persons whose behavior is deviant. According to this theory, the greater the degree of association, the greater the likelihood that the behavior will be deviant. In this theory, Sutherland sought to show that deviance was a function of such factors as the frequency and intensity of associations, how long they lasted, and how early they occurred in a person?s life. As an example, the corporate ... Free Essays on Differential Association Free Essays on Differential Association Objective 1: Assess Southland's "differential association" theory in relation to professional thieves specializing in the robbery of drug stores. Some social and criminal behavior is learned from interaction with others or associations. Human behavior is influenced and determined by social and environmental factors. Almost everything we are has been learned. Criminal activities are learned in much the same way as law-abiding ones. Variations in belief and conduct are learned rather than genetically inherited. We are socialized and brought up by society and its norms and values. We are molded to a large extent by society. What is common sense and normal behavior to one society may not be relative to another society. What is one persons common sense may be somebody else's nonsense. What is conforms to normal in one society may be regarded as deviant outside of it. By associating with deviant people criminal behavior, motive and technique are learned. Criminal behavior is not inherited. A crime can not be committed with out being trained or influenced by other members of a criminal crew. A professional thief would be trained by those who are already professionals. The learning would include the technique of how to commit the crime and what the motive is for committing the crime. The principles of "differential association" are that society has definitions favorable to following the laws that govern society.. A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of law over definitions favorable to following the laws that govern society. Modern societies have many different subcultures, and behavior that conforms to the norms of a particular sub cultural setting may be regarded as deviant outside it. Professional thieves have the same needs as law abiding people but they choose illegal methods over legal methods. A professional thief specializing in the robbery of a drug store would work wit... Free Essays on Differential Association The Theory of Differential Association and Gangs Theory is a systematic explanation of a phenomenon; it organizes known facts and allows us to predict new facts, and permits us to exercise a degree of control over the phenomenon. One important theory was first offered nearly three-quarters of a century ago by Edwin Sutherland, the theory of differential association. Edwin H. Sutherland was born August 13, 1883 in Gibbon, Nebraska and died in 1950. He studied in Ottawa, Kansas and Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1904 he received the B.A. degree from Grand Island College and in 1906 he entered graduate school at the University of Chicago from which he received his doctorate (FSU). There he changed his major from history to sociology. The University of Chicago?s approach to the study of crime emphasized that human behavior was determined by social and physical environmental factors, rather than genetic or personal characteristics. (FSU). Differential Association theory was Sutherland?s major sociological contribution to criminology. Sutherland argued that people become criminal if they are exposed to statements, which express approval of crime more often than disapproval. Statements approving crime will vary in their power to influence depending on the status and the importance of the person who spoke them, and the age of the listener. This approach explains deviant behavior as a result of family and friendship influences. The theory of Differential Association states that deviant behavior is largely the result of associating with other persons whose behavior is deviant. According to this theory, the greater the degree of association, the greater the likelihood that the behavior will be deviant. In this theory, Sutherland sought to show that deviance was a function of such factors as the frequency and intensity of associations, how long they lasted, and how early they occurred in a person?s life. As an example, the corporate ...