Differential Association | Sociology | Chegg Tutors

Differential association is the view in sociology that people learn deviant behavior through their interactions with other people. First developed by Edwin Sutherland in the early to mid-20th century, differential association helps explain deviant behavior. Different groups have different beliefs, values, and practices; sometimes a group's beliefs, values, and practices clash with mainstream social norms. According to differential association, when a person associates more with such groups than with others, that person learns deviant behavior. For example, a child who grows up among professional thieves is more likely to learn to steal; such a person might learn not only to regard stealing as acceptable, but also specific techniques for stealing. In this view, younger people are more likely to learn deviance than older people.

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About Fallon S., Sociology tutor on Chegg Tutors:

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2017
Marketing, Sociology major

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[phantomstrider]

Thanks for explaining this so succinctly. It's surprisingly hard to find a concrete explanation of differential association on the web. Much obliged.

[angeltorres]

I just loved your video. You explained it and spoked so well. I'll saving your video to watch it again. Thank you so much for doing such a great job🤗

[Fabrizio_Ruffo]

I think we can simplify this one step further and say that social groups are factors that pull you towards different norms, however the decision itself is independently a seperate process. It rings similar to yee old risk/reward or "pleasure/pain". There are many arguments for an against any decision, but not all are created equal. We prioritize information based on our goals, fears, etc. Social groups are a pressure that push us in one direction or another, and this can change our priorities. How we prioritize groups determines thier influence over us, and inversely how we prioritize the information determines how we calculate risk and reward. This can explain even irrational decisions such as acts of anger and passion: the simple explanation is that in the heat of the moment, the emotional pressure changed your priority. This is how people make decisions that upon reflection do not serve thier own interests, or may even be self destructive. It also explains addiction and how drug dependance can influence a person's prioritization. Social groups are simply one force among many that determine our priorities.

[Catherinetubig]

Thankyou for this explanation. I have my report tomorrow about This theory. It hepls me to understand

[sohaibahmed]

Well explained the example you brought up about stealing helped me understand it. Btw this would fall under positivism right?

[Rakev]

how you gonna start a video saying hi my name is stalin 😂😂