Delinquency Theories Edwin Sutherland --

¶ … Delinquency Theories

Edwin Sutherland -- Differential Association Theory:

Sutherland's Differential Association Theory proposes that group dynamics and the social learning that takes place within groups is the primary cause of social deviance and delinquency. Whereas Hirschi's Social Bonding Theory emphasizes the reasons that individuals develop into criminals, Sutherland's Differential Association focuses only on how they become criminals (Macionis, 2003).

Specifically, Sutherland suggested that criminality is socially-learned behavior and that it is the mutual influence among members of deviant groups and the shared criminal mentality within that social environment that produces delinquency and criminal mindset. Moreover, according to Sutherland, the individual learns everything from criminal motivation and perspective to the methods of executing particular criminal activities through the associations within the deviant social group (Macionis, 2003).

From Sutherland's analysis, the individual is influenced by other individuals within the deviant social group as well as by the group dynamics of a shared mentality and common goals. The individual absorbs criminal goals and values as wells as the strategies for executing criminal activities in furtherance of those goals and values from other group members (Henslin, 2002; Macionis, 2003).

Sutherland's theory does not address any factors that may predispose certain individuals to seek out associations with deviant groups or with other delinquency-

oriented individuals while others adopt socially appropriate behaviors and the positive values of the predominant social culture.

Travis Hirschi -- Social Bonding Theory:

Hirschi's Social Bonding Theory specifically rejected Sutherland's Differential

Association by proposing that the latter theory confuses cause and effect. In that regard,

Hirschi suggested that the deviant associations referenced by Sutherland are merely one of the effects of delinquency rather than one of its causes (Macionis, 2003). Whereas

Sutherland maintained that delinquency is a function of the mutual personal influences among group members, Hirschi believed that like-minded individuals predisposed to disaffection from mainstream values and delinquency find one another and that their associations are a symptom of their preexisting delinquency.

According to Hirschi, the principal cause of social disaffection and delinquency is the absence of meaningful social bonds that help direct human social behavior in positive

directions and in accordance with the predominant values of society (Henslin, 2002).

More specifically, Hirschi suggested that the types of social bonds that predict appropriate social adaptation are healthy attachments within the family of origin and within social environments such as the school; a shared commitment to community beliefs; involvement in conventional activities; and shared community values (Henslin,

2002; Macionis, 2003).

Hirschi viewed the health of these four types of social bonds as producing socially appropriate, positive behaviors and considered delinquency to be the product of weak, dysfunctional, or absent social bonds that are necessary to counteract antisocial tendencies. Conversely, Hirschi believed that poor social bonds predispose the individual to antisocial or deviant behaviors that conflict with predominant social values.

Differential Association Theory-Based Delinquency Prevention:

A Differential Association Theory-based delinquency prevention program would emphasize the disruption of deviant groups as the primary means of preventing individuals from being corrupted by the influence of group dynamics, shared disaffection for predominant social values, and criminal perspective generated by the "group think"

phenomenon. Just as parole programs typically restrict contact between offenders, a Differential Association-oriented delinquency prevention program would endeavor to prohibit the formation of deviant groups and criminally-prone gangs.

The specific mechanisms for intervention would include sentencing juvenile offenders to mandatory suspension of social relationships deemed capable of precipitating delinquent or criminal conduct in lieu of harsher penalties. Another mechanism might be the strict enforcement of particular municipal codes, such as ordinances prohibiting the public assembly of groups of individuals or the promulgation of such legislation for that purpose where existing legislation is lacking in that regard.

Likewise, the strict enforcement of other commonly overlooked activities technically prohibited by ordinance, such as the timely vacating of parks promptly at closing time, loitering on private commercial property adjacent to convenience stores, and truancy statutes would all be incorporated into a Differential Association-oriented approach to delinquency prevention.

More generally, that concept of delinquency prevention would necessarily emphasize police enforcement of any statutes conducive to discouraging gathering and loitering in the manner often associated with deviant group culture and habit. However, it is doubtful that such a program could prevent serious criminally-oriented associations.

Social Bonding Theory-Based Delinquency Prevention:

Because Social Bonding Theory considers deviant group association to be symptoms of preexisting predisposition to deviance rather than its cause, a Social

Bonding Theory-based delinquency program would not emphasize strict enforcement of ordinances designed to disrupt gatherings of individuals. Instead, that approach to preventing delinquency would focus on providing social outlets and opportunities within the community and its institutions designed to promote positive social bonds as a means of preventing the development of social disaffection and maladjustment that result in the formation of like-minded individuals prone to deviance.