Theory Database - Theory 12: Differential Association Theory

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research.

Theory 12: Differential Association Theory

Number of Constructs: 19
Number of Triples: 20

Theory triples

Intimate personal groups influences Learning
Differential association influences Learning
Communication influences Learning
Learning influences Favourable / unfavourable definitions of legal codes
Duration influences Differential association
Social organisation influences Differential association
Intensity influences Differential association
Priority influences Differential association
Frequency influences Differential association
Favourable / unfavourable definitions of legal codes influences Criminal behaviour
Person-situation complex influences Criminal behaviour
Direction of motives, drives, rationalisations, and attitudes type of Learning
Techniques of committing crime type of Learning
Situation influences (*) Person-situation complex
Life experience of the person influences (*) Person-situation complex
Opportunity for a criminal act part of Situation
Learning part of Life experience of the person
Differential association part of Life experience of the person
Non-verbal communication type of Communication
Verbal communication type of Communication

Theory constructs and annotations

Intimate personal groups Groups of individuals who share close interpersonal relationships [ BCIO:006003 (friendship network) 12 80 ]
Learning The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information, behaviour patterns, or abilities, characterised by modification of behaviour as a result of practice, study or experience [ GO:0007612 (learning) 12 ]
Differential association The balance of one's association with, or isolation from, criminal or non-criminal groups.
Communication The transmission of information from one person or source to another, which may be by verbal (oral or written) or nonverbal means [ BCIO:036034 (Human communication behaviour) 12 4 59 78 ]
Favourable / unfavourable definitions of legal codes Favourable or unfavourable views on legal codes that are shared by members of a group (e.g. views on whether laws should be adhered to or violated). [ BCIO:006039 (perceived norm) 12 18 66 77 80 71 10 78 ]
Duration The duration of time for which one is associated with criminal or non criminal groups. [ BCIO:050455 (behavioural duration) 12 67 ]
Social organisation Socio-demographic factors that may play a role in the development of criminal behaviour, such as socio-economic status and the neighbourhood in which a person lives [ BCIO:050893 (socio-demographic characteristic) 12 27 35 ]
Intensity The intensity of one's association with criminal or non-criminal groups (e.g. group prestige, emotions associated with specific groups). [ BCIO:050771 (Social embeddedness in a social group) 12 ]
Priority The priority with which one's association with criminal or non-criminal groups influences behaviour (e.g. behaviour may be most strongly influenced during childhood).
Frequency The frequency with which one is associated with criminal or non-criminal groups.
Criminal behaviour Behaviour that is criminal/illegal in nature. [ BCIO:050810 (Criminal behaviour) 12 ]
Person-situation complex The interaction between one's life experiences and current situation
Direction of motives, drives, rationalisations, and attitudes [ BCIO:006133 (motivation) 12 , GSSO:002821 (attitude) 12 , BCIO:006038 (evaluative belief) 12 53 64 55 1 8 31 56 41 30 70 74 14 54 60 67 ]
Techniques of committing crime Practical skills and abilities related to the performance of a behaviour; ways of performing a behaviour, varying complexity from very simple to very complicated [ MF:0000048 (Behavioural capability) 12 30 8 ]
Situation
Life experience of the person [ BFO:0000182 (history) 12 ]
Opportunity for a criminal act [ BCIO:006086 (Opportunity) 12 73 25 1 32 11 4 60 67 65 59 8 74 66 41 5 77 56 9 79 ]
Non-verbal communication [ MF:0000040 (communication) 12 13 ]
Verbal communication [ MF:0000040 (communication) 12 13 ]

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

Sutherland, E.H. (1947). Principles of Criminology (4th Ed.). J.B. Lippincott Company.

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