What long-held belief regarding the causes of criminal behavior did Edwin Sutherland dispute?
a. Criminal behavior is learned.
b. Criminals are less likely to create strong bonds with their immediate family members despite their antisocial proclivities.
c. Criminals are primarily created in the lower classes due to a feeling of inadequacy.
d. Criminal behavior is a result of society labels.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a. Criminal behavior is learned.
Edwin Sutherland’s theory of differential association fundamentally challenged the prevailing belief that criminal behavior is biologically innate or determined by social class. Before Sutherland, it was widely assumed that criminals were born with inherent traits that made them predisposed to crime or that criminal behavior was a direct result of economic hardship, particularly in lower social classes. However, Sutherland argued that criminal behavior is not an inherent trait but something that individuals learn through interactions with others.
According to Sutherland’s theory, people learn criminal behavior in the same way they learn any other behavior, by associating with others who promote criminal values and norms. This learning occurs within intimate groups such as family members, friends, and peers. When individuals are exposed to more influences that favor illegal activities than to those that oppose them, they are more likely to engage in criminal behavior themselves. Therefore, it’s not about the person’s inherent traits or social class but about the values and behaviors they are exposed to.
Sutherland’s perspective was a significant departure from the classical theories of crime, which viewed criminality as either a product of biological factors or the consequence of living in poverty. His approach emphasized the social nature of crime and placed responsibility on the environment and relationships that influence an individual’s behavior. This theory provided a foundation for understanding crime that focused on social learning rather than deterministic or class-based factors.