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Differential Association Theory

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The famous criminologist Edwin Sutherland developed Differential Association Theory in 1939. He felt that criminal behavior is behavior, learned, and is learned in face-to-face interactions with others. Differential association, which operates on the individual level, is where behavior is learned through interaction with others. Through this interaction an individual will learn the techniques and skills necessary to commit crime as well as the motives, rationalization, and attitudes necessary for the crime. This is achieved by determining whether the pros outweigh the cons using the factors of frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
Differential social organization is defined by the extent in which a society or group is in favor of …show more content…

In addition, Akers’ (1996) identifies two weaknesses within the theory, while simultaneously offering support by attacking criticism associated with viewing differential association as a cultural deviance theory. The use of how the theory has been used, an increased number of studies have begun to focus on differential association. As such, the theory itself is making a come back into the field of criminology, as well as several other disciplines. Thus, Sutherland’s theory has been in use now for over 64 years and continues to be quite popular in explaining why individuals commit deviant acts. The product of the city life starts with the police. Many have questioned whether policing is based on an accepted theory. Policing include different and varied elements depending upon the individual crime. The stop and search is one way the police have power to question people on the street whom they believe are acting suspiciously. A decline in stop and search had been linked to that very rise in street crime. As long as it was a useful tool in fighting lawlessness, and as long as it was used appropriately, then the police should not be afraid to employ it. The issue of stop and search became wrapped up with the broader war on rising street crime and the failure of the criminal justice system to tackle it.

Persistent offenders would commit a

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