The Differential Association Theory

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Recommended: Sociological Perspective Explaining Deviance

All everyone wants is to live in a perfect society where there is no violence, burglary, and vandalism. In reality, deviance exists everywhere in the social world because little acts of violence can generate into deviant behavior in the community. It varies through culture and time because each individual holds different attitudes towards crime. For instance, criminals hold different attitudes toward crime as the general public do. They have rejected the norms of society. However, sociologists define and explain the concept of deviance in a different way than the general public do because sociologists wants to understand why individuals or social groups rejected social norms by committing little acts of violence. As Kendall (2012) states, This theory is based on the work of Sociologist Edwin Sutherland. Differential association theory states that people learn criminal behavior through the social groups with which they associate. If a person associates with a group that defines criminal behavior as acceptable, the person will probably engage in criminal behavior due to their influence. The theory stresses the impact that others have on one’s view of deviant behavior (Kendall, The differential association theory takes place when individuals are exposed to definitions unfavorable or favorable to deviant behavior and individuals learn, adapt, and apply these definitions in their life. In Alegria’s situation, he was exposed to aggressiveness, violent, and sexual assault at an early age. He was exposed to actions favorable to criminality. Throughout his life, he was somewhat agreeable to these definitions of right and wrong because he was not capable of creating his own perceptions. He was not capable of creating his own perceptions because he was learning deviant behavior through his family. His family viewed criminal behavior as acceptable because his Kyle’s parents allowed him to watch horror and pornographic movies. They also allowed someone to rape their son without a consequence. As a result of his parents’ actions, he was engaged in criminal behaviors due to his parents’ influence (Tucson,

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