Differential association theory is a criminological theory developed by Edwin Sutherland that proposes that individuals learn criminal behavior, values, attitudes, techniques, and motives through interaction with others/07%3A_Deviance_Social_Control_and_Crime/7.06%3A_The_Symbolic-Interactionalist_Perspective_on_Deviance/7.6A%3A_Differential_Association_Theory). The theory suggests that people become delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of law. The theory has nine basic postulates, including that criminal behavior is learned, that it is learned through interaction with others, and that the amount of time a person is exposed to a particular definition and at what point the interaction began are crucial for explaining criminal activity.
Some key features of differential association theory include:
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Learning: Criminal behavior is learned through communication and association with other criminals/delinquents, where techniques and methods are learned, as well as new attitudes and motives to commit a crime.
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Frequency and intensity of interaction: The amount of time that a person is exposed to a particular definition and at what point the interaction began are both crucial for explaining criminal activity.
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Balance of definitions: An individual will choose the criminal path when the balance of definitions for law-breaking exceeds those for law-abiding/07%3A_Deviance_Social_Control_and_Crime/7.06%3A_The_Symbolic-Interactionalist_Perspective_on_Deviance/7.6A%3A_Differential_Association_Theory).
Differential association theory is the most talked-about of the learning theories of deviance. It is closely related to the interactionist perspective, but it is not considered so because interactionism focuses on the construction of boundaries in society and persons perceptions of them. The theory predicts that an individual will choose the criminal path when the balance of definitions for law-breaking exceeds those for law-abiding/07%3A_Deviance_Social_Control_and_Crime/7.06%3A_The_Symbolic-Interactionalist_Perspective_on_Deviance/7.6A%3A_Differential_Association_Theory).
The differential association theory of offending is supported by the Cambridge Study in delinquency. However, the theory has some weaknesses, including that research on it is correlational, it does not explain why crime decreases with age, it is difficult to measure and test empirically, and it does not account for biological factors.
