Differential Association Theory

DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION IS A LEARNING THEORY WHICH FOCUSES ON THE PROCESSES BY WHICH INDIVIDUALS COME TO COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS.

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, SOMETIMES VERY SIMPLE;
   • (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 VIOLATIONS OF LAW.
   
   
7. DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATIONS MAY VARY IN
   • FREQUENCY,
   • DURATION,
   • PRIORITY,
   • INTENSITY.
   
   
8. THE PROCESS OF LEARNING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY ASSOCIATION WITH CRIMINAL AND ANTICRIMINAL 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.