Social Psychological Explanations: Criminal Behaviours

Proposed by Edwin Sutherland (1939).
Offending behavior is learned through social interaction.
People are socialized into crime by associating with those who have favorable attitudes toward it.
A mathematical formula could predict criminality based on frequency, duration, and intensity of social contacts.
Children learn pro-criminal attitudes, specific types of crimes, and methods for committing crimes.
Attitudes and behaviors are learned from intimate personal groups and the wider neighborhood.
Frequency, length, and personal meaning of associations determine influence.
Learning occurs through direct and indirect operant conditioning, role modeling, and social norms.

Shifted criminology focus from individual pathology to social influences.
Introduced white-collar crime concept.
Osborn and West (1979): 40% of sons with criminal fathers also committed crimes by 18.
Akers et al. (1979): Peer influence accounted for 68% variance in marijuana use and 55% in alcohol use among adolescents.
Relies on correlational data.
Difficult to test empirically.
More suited to explaining smaller, learned offences, not impulsive or violent crimes.
Newburn (2002): 40% of crimes are committed by those under 21.
Gudjonsson and Sigurdsson (2007): Desire for risk is a key factor in youth offending.

Socialization is the process by which norms and customs are learned.
Boys are encouraged towards risk-taking and toughness, while girls are more closely supervised and expected to conform.
Role models: mothers for girls, fathers for boys (though fathers are often less available).
Boys may rebel against feminine traits and seek masculine validation in peer groups.
Masculine behaviors (aggression, risk-taking) can lead to criminal behavior.
Patriarchal societies exert more control over women, reducing their opportunities for crime.
Women are controlled at home, work, and in public via media portrayal of female criminals.
Man Up project aims to challenge masculine stereotypes to reduce criminal behavior.

Explains gender differences in crime rates: boys socialised to be more aggressive and risk-taking.
Supported by sociological research on gender roles.
Carlen (1997): Sentencing may be based on conformity to gender roles, not crime severity.
Dabbs et al. (1987): High testosterone levels in inmates linked to violent crimes.
Eriksson et al. (2003): Men with alcohol-related aggression had lower oestradiol levels.
Hormonal differences offer a biological alternative to explain lower female offending rates.