Sutherland's Theory of Differential Association to Explain the Age-crime Relationship - Assignment Example

Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory has helped to identify various reasons as to why an individual during his process of growth moves towards the path of crime. The great thing about this theory is that “it doesn’t threat the methods which are applied presently to treat people who are criminal”. (Gaylord, 1988:1) Some of the important findings of this theory are The behaviour of people who do crime is acquired during the process and for this communication plays an important role. This learning takes place in the groups as members communicate among themselves. The learning which takes place is very vast and includes ways in which a crime is done, the reasons behind those, the change in behaviour and the drive. People not only commit crime because of the group they are in but due to non association with those pattern may also make him behave in that way. Thus isolating thus not affects the criminals and they are again ready to do so. People also feel guilty after committing crime and so with the passage of time he recognises it and gets out of it People see that they get benefit as a result of violating a law. Suppose a person is into drugs so violating a law will make the availability of drug easy for him so he gets into crime and continues till the desire for it is there. If we try to see ‘behaviour of criminals and their reason for committing crime on the basis of needs then it does not give a clear picture. This is so because a person might do it for money and other also work for money so equating the both behaviour would be wrong”. (Sutherland, 1974) The other finding is that because a person who has committed an act which is wrong his association with the group who commit crime increases so it takes time for him to learn the correct society norms. His theory further supports that criminals help each other. In case of a danger he will inform his colleagues and they acquire this by learning from others. Even statistically it has been seen that people who get into crime start it at a very early age. It is seen that children normally start crime from the age of 5 where they start learning about it and it is learned among the group members. Slowly with the passage of time they gain experience and start to commit more and more crime and their reasons for doing so are what an individual or a fair person would want. Slowly when he enters adulthood his crime rate falls and he starts to learn the society norms and start to live in this. This is also seen from the following graph. Figure1. Age-crime relationship chart This has been also supported by Sutherland’s theory which emphasis the fact that people slowly learn this and in the process they get accustomed to it and because of the group they are in it learns very fast. Even their drive for doing so might be money which is also a very necessity thing in the society. Thus this theory further substantiates that age and crime have a relation and slowly with the passage of time he realizes his mistakes and converts himself into a good individual respecting the societal norms. Some of the reasons why children are so susceptible to crime are that “they get into habit of drinking so an urge for money could be one; requiring money for drug could be other, it could also be due to depression”. (Rutter & Smith, 1995) This is a concern for people as many studies suggest that there is a relation between a person committing the crime and his age. This has led to worries and researchers are trying to find ways where this can be reduced and children can be stopped from indulging in such activities as it is harmful for the society. It is important to identify a few reasons why there is a decrease in the criminal activity once they start to enter adulthood. This would help us better understand the different studies and how it is related to Sutherland theory. Some of the reasons are People start to earn handsomely so most of their necessities are met. They also enter a new phase in their life like getting married causes a reduction in this activity With age on their side people understand the importance of responsibility and also know that they have to contribute towards the society. This is so because there is a change in the attitude which is also suggested in Sutherland theory. Slowly with age people start to build reputation in the society. This acts as a hindrance to continue with their criminal activity. Recognition of oneself then dominates his drive and Sutherland theory also says that it’s the drive which causes a person to behave in a certain way and a change in drive alters his behaviour. Many a study has been conducted and they all predict the same result. They strongly establish a relation between the two which will further be substantiated by Sutherlands’ theory. A study has shown that “the relationship between their parents and child affect whether the child will take the course of crime. It is especially true for people whose parents have been criminals at some stage of their life”. (Ganem N & Robert, 2007) This is also what Sutherland theory also says. This is due to the fact that he remains associated with that group and the communication process transfers it to him. The chances of such children taking the path of crime is higher as he learns things faster at this age and he learns what he sees. Another study shows that “the age and crime relation is at its height during adolescence and then it starts to fall”. (Janet L, 1998) This has also been substantiated as various statistical data shows that the age of entering is around 5 and by the time they are 12 it’s at its peak and then slowly it falls. Even this theory says so because children at this age have a desire for things. If they get into the habit like suppose drinking or using drug then they need money and the best way to get those it through the act of crime. This has also been said in the theory as the intensity to commit crime falls and is not always the same as is the case in adolescent. Another study shows that “children start to commit crime between 8-14 years of age and start to learn it. They are at their peak during the age 15-19 and from there their crime rate starts to fall”. (Stephen V, 2009) This shows that children are more susceptible to crime and slowly with age on their side they give up crime which also supports Sutherland’s theory which also says that crime is learned during the process of interaction among the members. Another research has shown that “gender doesn’t affect person taking on crime. It starts at a small age and diminishes as a person grows older”. (Darrel S, 1991) This is because every individual has a want for things and gender doesn’t put a bar on it. Even it has been seen that females are more susceptible to suicide because they feel guilty after committing a crime and it sometimes lead to depression. Even the theory says that criminals have a sense of guilt in them and this research supports it. Another research shows that “the age and crime relationship reduces after a certain age period is because of various factors like personality traits because the development of self with the passage of time shifts a person from this behaviour”. (Daniel M, 2009) This is with the passage of time his group changes and he starts to acquire the societal norms. This brings a shift in his behaviour and he starts to move out of it into responsible citizen. Another research shows that “as criminals grow older they give up criminal activity in their adulthood period and a factor which contributes towards it is selective attrition”. (Brame R & Piquero A, 2003) Another study has shown that “there is a difference in children who commit crime. This is due to the fact that certain children leave school early while others continue”. (Hansen K, 2003) This is so because children who have left their school go into a different environment and his group changes. This change of group causes new learning for those and slowly they acquire the other norms and give up being criminals. Even Sutherland theory suggests that a change in group changes the drive that an individual have thus changing his behaviour. One more study has convinced that “crime rate drops with age”. (Robert J & John H, 2004) This further proves the same thing again and again. This research is important because it has been done over a very high period of time but still it shows the same findings that children get into criminal activity because of the group they are in and slowly when they grow older and their group changes they become more responsible and their attitude changes. The concern here is that as people get out of criminal activity one they get older it affects their child as they come in relation with those people. Suppose a person was into illegal activities but with time he gave up. But, this will create an ill effect on his children and it has also been seen that this is true. As they remain in touch with their parent they learn this activity from them and it is reflected in his activity by getting into crime. Thus, we see that there emerges a strong relationship between the crime which an individual commits and his age. This has also been supported by many studies and also being substantiated by Sutherland theory which says that it’s a natural process and people acquire it during the course of their communication within the group. It also shows that with the passage of time and criminals entering adulthood this slowly dwindles and there is a change in the behaviour of individual. The worry for people is that though studies confirm that there is a relation but none has been able to point towards ways in which this could be reduced at the early age. This has led to increase in the dangers and as a result the number of people committing suicide is increasing as people can’t take that pressure of being called criminals. It’s important that newer and better methods and theories are devised which will help find ways to reduce people entering into it so that people are able to understand societal norms early and have their behaviour drafted in the same manner so that it benefits them and the society at large in the long run. Reference Brame R & Piquero A, 2003, selective attrition and age crime relationship, Journal of quantitative criminology, Volume 19, issue 2 Darrel S, 1991, age, gender & crime across three periods, Questia journal article, volume 69 Daniel M, 2009, explaining the relation between age and crime, contribution from developmental literature on personality, journal of Springer Gaylord, 1988, criminology of Sutherland Ganem N & Robert, 2007, parenthood and adult criminal offending, Journal of Criminal justice, Volume 35, Issue 6 Janet L, 2007, the age crime debate, questia journal article, volume 77 Robert J & John H, 2004, life course desisters, University of Maryland, Volume 41, Number 3 Sutherland, 1974, Criminology Stephen V, 2009, age crime relationship, a function of differential association, American society of Criminology Read More