How does differential association theory view crime? Be specific, and explain the theory in detail.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Crime is learned, just like anything else, and this theory explains the process of
learning how to become a delinquent and involves nine principles: (1) Criminal behavior
is learned. (2) Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process
of communication. (3) The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs
within intimate personal groups. (4) When criminal behavior is learned, the learning
includes (a) techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very complicated
and sometimes very simple and (b) the specific direction of motives, drives,
rationalizations, and attitudes. (5) The specific direction of motives and drives is learned
from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable. (6) A person becomes
delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over
definitions unfavorable to violation of law. (7) Differential associations may vary in
frequency, duration, priority, and intensity. (8) 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. (9) While criminal behavior is an expression of
general needs and values, it is not explained by those general needs and values, since
noncriminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.