the differential association theory
- is one of the many theories of social learning of crime and deviance - believed that deviance is a behaviour, similar to other behaviours can be learned through socialisation - e.g.

- context to Sutherland's theory - if someone is associated with criminals then they're more likely to participate in criminal behaviour - because you will learn attitudes that will determine you to be either deviant or conformist to 'external social norms'

background of key propositions
- Sutherland states that through your associations with deviants - you believe that deviant behaviour is in fact normal - people who don't associate with deviants don't believe this behaviour is normal - incorporates 9 key propositions
1. criminal behaviour is learned
- which is not inherited as a biological characteristics - can learn criminal behaviours through family - not passed down genetically
2. criminal behaviour is learned in interaction with other persons in a process off communication
- communication can be verbal but behaviour can also be communicated by setting an example
3. the principal part of the learning of criminal behaviour occurs within intimate personal groups
- shows we learn deviance from our most intimate associates - friends and family - not impersonal relationships
4. when criminal behaviour is learned, the learning includes - techniques of committing the crime and the specific direction of motives, drives and rationalisations and attitudes
- several different dimensions of criminality that are learned
5. the specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favourable of unfavourable
- if you're surrounded by people who break the law, you think it's more acceptable to do it too
6.

a person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favourable to violation of law over definitions unfavourable to violation of the law

- the more illegal behaviours you define as acceptable - the more likely you are to become 'delinquent' - you go against norms of society - legal norms
7. differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority and intensity
- there are four key dimensions of differential association - higher contact - higher criminal behaviours
8. the process of learning criminal behaviour by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any over learning
- learning crime is just like learning anything else - sample principles
9. while criminal behaviour is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those needs and values, since non-criminal behaviour is an expression of the same needs and values
- one person might seek out money ans respect through criminal behaviour and another may seek the same things but through conforming behaviour - the need of something cannot explain why a person turns to crime whilst another doesn't - criminals have the same needs and values as non-criminals - doesn't change morals - just learnt