SOC222 Lecture Notes - Differential Association, Edwin Sutherland, Tabula Rasa
Document Summary
Looks to explain the interaction between the individuals and their environments. Human behaviour is flexible, not fixed, and can change depending on the situation. Delinquency occurs under the same conditions that non-delinquent behaviour occurs under. A delinquent isn"t bad or deviant - the same person commits delinquent & non-delinquent acts. The influence of peers in situational factors can independently have an impact on the decision to commit a delinquent act. *these theories show the capacity that humans have to modify the impact of external factors due to their ability to rational choice and exercise free will. *one of the first and arguable the most influential social learning theories. Suggests that criminality is learned through a process of differential association with others who communicate criminal values and support committing crime. All behaviour is learned - including criminal behaviour. Micro: delinquent acts occur in conjunction with delinquent associations. Macro: norms, values, and behavioural patterns vary based on how the environment is organized.