Q

QuestionCriminal Justice

Differential association theory, developed by Edwin Sutherland, suggests that criminal or deviant behavior is learned through close personal interactions with others who engage in or support such behaviors. Key elements include: - Learning occurs through communication with intimate personal groups - Specific techniques of committing crimes are learned - Motivations and rationalizations for criminal behavior are also learned

Option A: A student starts smoking even though most of their close friends disapprove of cigarettes - This does NOT match differential association - The social group is NOT encouraging the behavior - Incorrect example of differential association Option B: A shopper decides to shoplift after seeing that a store has no security guard - This is more an example of opportunity-based decision making - Not related to learning from social interactions - Incorrect example of differential association Option C: An athlete takes performance-enhancing drugs after hearing teammates talk about using them - MATCHES differential association theory - Learning about the behavior through close social group (teammates) - Receiving information, techniques, and potential rationalizations from peers - Correct example of differential association Option D: A teenager whose friends skip school and commit petty crimes begins to do the same - MATCHES differential association theory - Learning criminal behaviors from close peer group - Adopting deviant behaviors through social interactions - Correct example of differential association