Edwin Sutherland developed differential association theory, which states that criminal behavior is learned through social interactions and exposure to criminal and anti-criminal groups. The theory proposes that individuals learn techniques of crime and motives by associating with others who engage in or reject criminal behavior. Sutherland argued that the more one interacts with those who condone criminal acts, the more likely they are to engage in crime themselves. He supported this with a case study of a thief, showing crime is learned through social circles. Sutherland also applied this theory to white-collar crime among respected professionals.

1. DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY
OF
EDWIN H. SUTHERLAND
TAKINA MORRIS
THEORIES OF CRIME DEVIANCE
GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY
FALL 2013

2. •
Edwin H. Sutherland was born on August 13,
1883 in Gibbon, Nebraska.
•
In 1906, Sutherland left his hometown to study
at the University of Chicago.
•
Sutherland received his doctorate in 1913 and
later joined the sociology department at Indiana
University.
•
Sutherland held this post until his death in 1950.

3. • Edwin Sutherland was influenced by the Chicago School’s
Criminological Theories and developed the Differential Association
Theory.
• The Chicago School theories’ focal point was that crime stemmed
from an individual’s social and physical environment and did not
include pathological factors.

4. • Sutherland based his theory on the works
CliffordR. Shaw
of Shaw and McKay’s observation that
generations handed down delinquent
values to the next generation.
• Differential Association Theory is a socialpsychological theory that states criminal
behavior was a learning process and was
learned through social interactions.
Henry D. McKay

5. •
Sutherland described this learning process as differential association and noted that there is a
culture conflict, especially in inner city environments.
•
There are two cultures, criminal and conventional, and they competed for the loyalty of the
residents.
•
The key that determined which culture an individual would be more interested in was the
culture that the individual felt more connected with, i.e. thieves have more in common with
thieves; drug addicts have more in common with drug addicts; athletes have more in common
with athletes.
•
Sutherland contended that these encounters were inevitable and the individual would either be
more favorable to violation or non-violation of law.
•
There are only two choices and the more influential choice would determine which way an
individual would embrace.

6. Nine Propositions On The Causes Of Crime
Sutherland composed nine propositions that he deemed as causes of crime:
(1) Criminal behavior is learned.
(2) Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication.
(3) The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups.
(4) When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes: (a) techniques of committing the
crime, which sometimes are very complicated, sometimes are very simple; and (b) the specific
direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes.
(5) The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definition if legal codes as favorable
and unfavorable.

7. Nine Propositions Cont’d.
(6) A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over
definitions unfavorable to violation of law. This is the principle of differential association.
(7) Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
(8) The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns
involves all mechanisms that are involved in any other learning.
(9) While criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those
general needs and values since noncriminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values
(Sutherland & Cressy, 1970, pp. 75-76; Lilly, Cullen & Ball, 2011, pp. 48-49)

8. •
In support of this theory, Sutherland wrote a documentary about a
professional thief named “Chic Conwell” titled The Professional Thief.
•
This study confirmed that association with certain groups of people
determined which group an individual would become associated with; in this
instance an average individual associating with a group of professional thieves
and becoming a professional thief.

9. Sutherland also proclaimed that differential association did not only apply to the lower
class but it also applied to respectable individuals with high social status.
He termed this as “white- collar crime.” Lawlessness could be found at corporations,
politics, and among professionals.
Bernard Madoff
Charles Ponzi
Jack Abramoff
Jesse Jackson Jr. and Sandi Jackson

10. • Sutherland developed a theory that crime was not determined by a particular
class of people but that criminal behavior was learned through social
interactions.
• The more an individual was exposed to deviant behavior and interacted with
groups who deemed deviant behavior as a way of life, the more they would
partake in such deviant behavior. This association allowed an individual to
become more efficient in committing crime.
• The more an individual was exposed to positive behavior and socialized with
individuals who valued lawful behavior, the more they would partake in such
positive behavior.

11. REFERENCES
Sutherland & Cressy, 1970, pp. 75-76; Lilly, Cullen & Ball, 2011, pp. 48-49
Lilly, Cullen & Ball, 2011
Jacoby, 1994, pp. 24-25; http://criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/sutherland.html, para. 42