The Social Learning And Differential Association Theories

Introduction This paper will outline and discuss the social learning and differential association theories and how those two theories impact and influence gang and violence surrounding said gangs. Although there is no set definition of gang violence, the United States Department of Justice has defined gangs as at least three persons with a common identity either through colors, signs, physical markings or other symbols. There are different types of gangs involved in criminal activities such as street gangs, prison gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs. These individuals band together or act along to inflict threats, pain, suffering, injury and often time death on many innocent victims and at times each other. Street gangs range from neighborhood gangs to gangs on a national level, such as the well-known â€Å"Bloods†. Often time the neighborhood gangs inflict crimes of violent nature such as murder and assault on rival gang members for new member initiation, retaliation and turf wars. 2013 National Gang Report. Street gang violence also involves crimes such as assaults, murder, robberies, and rape. Among other crimes committed by street gang members are prostitution rings, burglaries, distribution and selling of drugs, and counterfeiting. (CITE) Although the latter is not considered as â€Å"violent crimes† per se; however, due to the threats and intimidation demonstrated by the gang members, the victims are subject to the activities escalating into crimes of a more violentShow MoreRelatedDifferential Association Theory By Edwin H. Sutherland969 Words   |  4 PagesDifferential Association theory by Edwin H. Sutherland states that criminal behavior is learned. Sutherla nd’s theory is essentially arguing that individuals that engage in criminal activity have learned to engage in criminal activity from association with others. Differential Association theory is broken down into nine propositions. The first proposition is that criminal behavior is learned (Sutherland, 2010). The second proposition states that the interaction with the other person or persons hasRead MoreSocial Learning Theory 1741 Words   |  7 Pagesthat social learning theory is an expanded theory of differential association processes and improves it with differential reinforcement and other principles of the behavior theory. They added classical conditioning (the sharpening of involuntary reflex behavior); discriminative stimuli (internal stimuli that lead to signals for behavior); schedules of reinforcement (rewards and punishment ratio following behavioral feedback); and other theories of behavior (Akers Sellers, 2013). Akers’ social learningRead MoreSocial Learning Theory Of Crime1278 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept, social learning theory has been applied to the many different fields of social science to explain why certain individuals develop motivation to commit (or abstain from) crime and develop the skills to commit crime through the people they associate with. Social Learning Theory (SLT) is one of the most frequently looked at theories in the criminology field. This theory was introduced by Ronald L. Akers as a reformulation of Edwin H. Sutherland s (1947) differential association theory of crimeRead MoreSocial Learning Theory839 Words   |  3 Pagesthis assignment, I will be studying social learning theory. Social learning theory was first proposed by Albert Bandura. It is a theory that emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others, (Social Learning Theory, n.d.). There are three main hypotheses of social learning theo ry. First, the theory assumes that people can learn by observing others (Cherry, n.d.). Second, social learning theory builds on behaviorism by suggesting thatRead MoreSutherlands Differential Association Theory1430 Words   |  6 PagesSutherland’s Differential Association Theory Ryan Herron Dr. Patrick Parnaby SOC 2070 9 November 2017  There are many theories used by Sociologists to explain deviance. One such theory is differential association theory, proposed by Edwin Sutherland. There are many strengths and weaknesses of differential association that will be laid out in this paper after differential association theory is fully explained. When discussed, it becomes apparent that differential association theory has many strengthsRead MoreA Norm Is A Rule Of Behavior Of Individuals In Society1491 Words   |  6 Pagessociety or groups, Emile Durkheim sociological founder considered norms to be social factors that exist in individual’s society of independence that creates the shapes of our behaviors and thoughts (Crossman, 2017). In the terms of not having sociality without social control the society would have no function without enforcing social orders that make daily life and the complex division of labor possible (Crossman, 2017). Social order is produced by ongoing life longs process of socialization that individualRead MoreSociological Theories For Deviance Fall Under The Concept Of Primary Deviance1014 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to sociologist Edwin Lemert, the majority of sociological theories for deviance fall under the concept of primary deviance. However, Lemert considered secondary deviance to be more important. Everyone is guilty of primary deviance. However, this does not mean that they perceive themselves to be a bad person. This is perception is where secondary deviance comes in. With secondary deviance, the individual, is labeled by the act of deviance that they committed, whether it is by themselvesRead MoreIp3 Crime Causation1535 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will focus on sociological theories of crime and their description, the strengths and weaknesses of each; sociological control theory, strain theory, differential association theory and neutralization theory. This essay will also focus on Rajartnam who was convicted for inside trading in 2011. Introduction A different approach to criminological theory was taken in the 1960’s although; it was a derivative of older theories. The labeling theory wanted to know questions about crime andRead MoreHow do Differential Association Theories best Demonstrate that Criminal Behaviour is a ‘Learned Behaviour’1007 Words   |  5 PagesDifferential association theory was Sutherland’s major sociological contribution to criminology, similar in importance to strain theory and social control theory. These theories all explain deviance in terms of the individual’s social relationship. Sutherland’s theory make tracks from the pathological perspective and biological perspective by features the cause of crime to the social context of individuals. â€Å"He rejected biological determinism and the extreme individualism of psychiatry, as well asRead MoreThe Tattoo By Chris Mckinney Essay1704 Words   |  7 Pagesthat one can learn criminal and violent behaviour by thos e who they hold close interpersonal relationships with, for example, family and friends. In saying that, I will be using the social learning theory looking in particular at Edwin Sutherland and his notion of differential association and Akers concept of differential reinforcement to explore the relationship between Ken Hideyoshi and Koa Puana. In The Tattoo, we were introduced to Koa Kauhi Puana who originates from Kahaluu on the Windward side