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

  • Edwin Sutherland
  • Differential Association Theory

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
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