differential association

(noun)

a theory in criminology developed by Edwin Sutherland, proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior

Related Terms

Examples of differential association in the following topics:

  • Differential Association Theory

    • Differential association is when individuals base their behaviors by association and interaction with others.
    • Differential association theory is the most talked-about of the learning theories of deviance.
    • The principles of Sutherland's theory of differential association can be summarized into nine key points.
    • An important quality of differential association theory is the frequency and intensity of interaction.
    • One critique leveled against differential association stems from the idea that people can be independent, rational actors and individually motivated.

  • Marx's View of Class Differentiation

    • " Marxism is associated with a view of stratification that pits the owners of means of production against the laborers.

  • The Future of Religion

    • 1) When discussing social structures, secularization can refer to differentiation.
    • Differentiation (or specialization) is a reference to the increasing division of labor and occupational specialization in society.
    • A good example of this type of secularization (and differentiation, for that matter) is the transition of Harvard University from a predominantly religious institution into a secular institution (with a divinity school now housing the religious element illustrating differentiation).
    • It should be noted that this understanding of secularization is distinct from definition one in that it refers specifically to religious decline rather than societal differentiation.
    • While widely associated with religious fundamentalism, suicide bombers are not exclusively religious; only 43% are identifiably religious.

  • Urban Neighborhoods

    • As is still commonly the case, neighborhoods in pre-industrial cities often had some degree of social specialization or differentiation.
    • In Canada and the United States, neighborhoods are often given official or semi-official status through neighborhood associations, neighborhood watches, or block watches.
    • Neighborhood watches are one form of semi-formal neighborhood associations that contribute to the regulation of crime in an area that is not an independent political unit.
    • Neighborhood watch associations function under citywide police and have no legal authority as crime enforcement officers.

  • Race Relations in Mexico: The Color Hierarchy

    • While indigeneity is associated with Native American biological descent, it is defined culturally rather than genetically.
    • This identity was associated with a lack of assimilation into modern Mexico.
    • These people are typically associated with Mexico's upper and middle socioeconomic classes.
    • Because "Mestizos" are also people with varying amounts of European ancestry, the differentiation between "mestizos" and "blancos" is often based on socio-cultural rather than biological boundaries.
    • Today, most blancos are still associated with the Spanish colonial order.

  • Secularism and the Future of Religion

    • Coined by the British writer George Jacob Holyoake in 1851, secularism is often associated with the Age of Enlightenment in Europe, and it now plays a major role in Western society.
    • When discussing social structures, secularization can refer to differentiation.
    • Differentiation refers to the increasing division of labor and occupational specialization in society.

  • Differential Treatment by Age or Ageism

    • The higher risk of death associated with elder abuse effects both those who are physically and cognitively impaired and those who are more capable.

  • Subcultures

    • In sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture that differentiates themselves from the larger culture to which they belong.
    • Through their association with territory (the 'street', the 'hood', the club, etc.), rather than property

  • The Role of Biology

    • For example, in some countries, wearing make-up is associated with women and is seen as feminine.

  • Evaluating Global Theories of Inequality

    • The idea that all members of a society should be equal is often associated with modern liberalism.
    • Differentiate between the positions on social inequality taken by functionalists, Marxists, modern liberalism, and social justice advocates