NCJ Number
136376
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (March 1992) Pages: 29-49
Date Published
1992
Length
21 pages
Annotation
An empirical test of an expanded version of Sutherland's differential association theory is presented based on data for 1,196 boys and girls.
Abstract
Sutherland's theory has several starting points: search for a universal explanation of crime, interaction between the individual and the social environment, interest in cultural and macrosocial conflicts and their consequences for the individual, and the idea that crime is learned. In 1974, the German methodologist, Karl-Dieter Opp, expanded Sutherland's theory and introduced several new variables related to the intensity of norms regulating deviance, opportunities for committing crime, and the intensity of needs. Differential association theory, according to Opp's version, was fairly well corroborated by data from the 1,196 juveniles. The theory explained 51 percent of the variance in criminal behavior. The empirical test also showed that the impact of the frequency of contacts with deviant behavior patterns on the development of positive definitions and on the frequency of communication about relevant techniques was substantial. The deviance of others had the most significant impact: the more youth had contact with their friends, the stronger the effect of their friends' deviance on the development of positive definitions and on the frequency of communication about techniques. In addition, the empirical test showed that the more youth identify with others, the stronger will be the impact of others' deviance on their norms. The results support the modification of differential association theory according to Opp and falsify some propositions of social control theory. An appendix contains supporting data. 55 references, 3 tables, and 1 figure