Discuss the nine propositions of Sunderland’s theory and the four dimensions of Aker’s theory.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Sunderland’s theory:
• Criminal behavior is learned.
• Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication.
• The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups.
• When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes (a) techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very simple; (b) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes.
• The specific direction of the motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable.
• A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of law.
• Differential association may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
• The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning.
• While criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those general needs and values since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.
Acker’s theory:
• Differential association—recognizes that interaction with others is an element of learning.
• Definitions—refers to attitudes, beliefs, and justifications about the appropriateness of actions.
• Differential reinforcement—addresses perceptions of rewards and punishments. When individuals are rewarded for behavior, they continue that behavior. When punished, that behavior should decrease.
• Imitation—individuals tend to perform behaviors after seeing others engage in those behaviors. This is particularly important in the early stages of behavior and not as important after the offenders have learned how to perform the behavior.