Differential Association Theory Research Articles

Linking employee and customer misbehaviour: The moderating role of past misdemeanours

Traditionally, studies that examine the activities of misbehaving employees and customers have done so in a separate and unrelated manner. Drawing on research that explores deviance amplifications and deviant learning, the current study aims to address this identified gap in the literature and provide empirical evidence of the linkages between perceived employee deviance and the severity of customer misbehaviour. Utilising equity, power and differential association theories, a conceptual model is forwarded comprising four hypotheses between the constructs: perceived employee service deviance; customer repatronage intent; severity of customer misbehaviour; and past customer misbehaviour. Using survey responses from 380 consumers of bars, hotels and restaurants, the empirical results offer support for the forwarded research model. The results show that customers perceiving employee misbehaviour are profoundly affected. Such experiences erode their repatronage intentions and are linked (directly and indirectly) to the severity of dysfunctional customer behaviour performed. Consumers’ past experience of misbehaviour is also found to impact the hypothesised relationships. The paper concludes by considering the implications of the findings and outlining directions for future research.

Hezbollah as a Group Phenomenon: Differential Association Theory

This article examines Hezbollah through the lens of differential association theory. The theory posits that violent behavior is cultivated in group interaction. One does not simply act alone but must learn from the tricks, successes, and failures of those who belong to one's group. In this analysis, the theory explains how Hezbollah has successfully managed to recruit new members and convince them to perpetrate terrorist attacks. The essence of any terrorist endeavor is communication among group members. As such, by interacting with one another, Hezbollah terrorists develop their combat skills and learn new tactics. Of particular importance in this analysis is the role of symbolism that forges a bond among group members. Whether it is through the Ashura procession (an annual Shi'ite commemorative ceremony), matams (religious sanctuaries that now serve as political and social gatherings), or calendar events such as World Jerusalem Day, potential Hezbollah members get to learn violent behavior by cultivating evil in groups.

Does vocational schooling facilitate criminal offending? A study of educational tracking in Finland

The Finnish educational system streams students to academic or vocational tracks at the transition to upper secondary school. Organized as specialized training programs, vocational schools in Finland are highly segregated by gender and tend to attract significant concentrations of poorly motivated students with behavioral problems. Drawing on differential association theory, we hypothesize that these settings facilitate criminal involvement. Evidence from longitudinal data suggests that participation in vocational education is criminogenic for males but not females. Moreover, supporting the cumulative disadvantage hypothesis, participation in the vocational track mediates the association between low academic performance and the risk of criminal conviction. These findings raise concerns about a system of tracking prevalent in many European countries.

A Survey on Relationship between Re-arrestment, Labeling, Deviant Identity and Social Exclusion in Tabriz Prison, Iran

Crime and social deviancies are dilemma in all over the world. Evidences showed that having a previous experience of imprisonment led to more involvement in legal problems. This study aimed to determine the relationship between labeling, deviant identity and social exclusion with re- arrestment as the most objective index of to be involved in committing crime. Sample included all prisoners in the Tabriz prisons, 180 people. To assess the indexes a self construct questionnaire with three subscales and 30 items designed and the variables measured. Validity and reliability coefficients of the scale were reported as a part of test-making process. Re-arrestment information was achieved from the judiciary system records which as a part of legal procedure recorded. The gathered data were analysed with Pearson correlation and other central tendency indexes. Results showed a robust relationship between re-arrestment and the other variables. These findings indicated the importance of labeling, social learning, social identity and differential association theories to explain consequences of imprisonment for people.

Applying differential association theory to online hate groups: a theoretical statement

Applying differential association theory to online hate groups: a theoretical statement

UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION AND GENERAL STRAIN THEORIES TO ANALYZE SUICIDE BOMBING IN INDONESIA

On Friday 21st April 2011, Indonesia was shocked by a suicide bombing in a police mosque in Cirebon,West Java Indonesia. The bombing exploded just before the Friday prayer began. Historically, althoughsuicide bombings or mosque bombing have occurred elsewhere, the suicide mosque bombing in Cirebonwas the first time this had occurred in Indonesia. There are similarities between the Cirebon bombingand other bombings occurring in Indonesia. First, there is a similar relationship among the suspects.Second, the suspects were all involved in organizations that have hard-line Islamic ideology. The aim ofthis paper is to understand the differential association and general strain theories in the light of the newform suicide bombing that occurred in Indonesia. This paper will be argued that differential associationtheory is an appropriate approach to explain the cause of the suicide bombing related to the relationshipamong suspects. Similarly, general strain theory is a suitable approach to explain the cause of theterrorism in Indonesia.KeyWords: terrorism, suicide bombing, differential association and general strain theories.

Alcohol Use Among Black and White Adolescents: Exploring the Influence of Interracial Friendship, the Racial Composition of Peer Groups, and Communities

Black adolescents use less alcohol, on average, than white adolescents. Prior research has struggled to explain the disparity in alcohol use between blacks and whites but not for a lack of potential mediating mechanisms. The current study draws on differential association theory and two waves of panel data (n = 1,016) to examine the influence of interracial friendship, the racial composition of peer groups, and communities on black–white differences in alcohol use. Findings indicate that (1) the racial composition of peer groups and communities influence changes in alcohol use, and (2) racial segregation contributes to racial disparities in alcohol use while interracial friendship reduces these disparities. Results suggest that the socially conservative values of the African-American community are a strong deterrent to adolescent drinking, affecting even those adolescents who are themselves white but associate with black youth.

Organizational cultures as agents of differential association: explaining the variation in bribery practices in Ukrainian universities

This article explores the variation in bureaucratic bribery practices of ordinary Ukrainians. Despite common arguments about corruption-generating structural constraints of economic transition and about the regional culture of corruption in Eastern Europe, interviews with university-affiliated Ukrainians reveal significant variation in rates and patterns of their engagement in bribery. This article shows that participation in corruption is closely associated with actors' exposure to organizational cultures. It uses Edwin Sutherland's differential association theory of crime to argue that the acquisition of definitions that are either favorable or unfavorable to bribery through exposure to different organizational cultures of universities leads Ukrainians to either commit or avoid bribery. Students and professors acquire crime-related definitions through (1) encounters with institutionalized bribery mechanisms, (2) conversations with peers and colleagues with more substantial experience within specific universities; and (3) observations of other students and instructors. Karl Weick's notion of organizational enactment is argued to be the mechanism whereby these learned definitions translate into specific bribery-related behaviors. Inasmuch as acting against these definitions may lead to academic or professional failure, testing their validity is risky for university members. The processes of organizational enactment of bribery-related definitions are, therefore, at the core of organizations' role as agents of differential association. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the potential synthesis of differential association and organizational theories as a powerful tool for the study of bureaucratic corruption.

Neighborhood, poverty, and negative behavior: An examination of differential association and social control theory

Abstract This study applies differential association and social control theories to childhood negative behaviors. Using a path analysis model, relationships between poverty, neighborhood SES, and parenting are explored. Analyses suggest that decreases in rates of poverty and increases in neighborhood SES lead to decreased negative behaviors, and aggravation with parenting is the greatest predictor of negative behavior.

Social Science Theories on Adolescent Risk-Taking

The major social science theories on adolescent risk-taking—strain, social control, and differential association theories—have received substantial empirical support. The relationships between variables central to these theories and individual differences in temperament related to risk-taking, however, have not been adequately studied. In a sample of adolescents, this study examines how behavioral inhibition and activation relate to variables central to social control, strain, and differential association theories and how interactions between behavioral inhibition and activation and these theories predict aggressive and nonaggressive forms of risk-taking. The results of this study suggest that (a) BIS (behavioral inhibition system) and BAS (behavioral approach system) are related to strain, social control, and differential associations; (b) the effects of these social science and personality variables are, at least partially, additive; and (c) significant interactions exist between BIS/BAS and social control and differential association. Combining social science and personality concepts therefore could advance the understanding of differences in risk-taking.

The Legacy of D. A. Andrews in the Field of Criminal Justice: How Theory and Research Can Change Policy and Practice

Donald Andrews’ overarching goal in the field of criminal justice was to assist offenders in changing their antisocial behavior. His means of doing so was to assist criminal justice agencies and their practitioners by changing the manner by which they worked with offenders. Beginning with the principles of differential association and social learning theory, Andrews crafted his own version of the psychology of criminal conduct (PCC). As a result of PCC, terms like “criminogenic needs” and “risk-need-responsivity” (RNR), which he coined and then researched extensively, have become commonplace in the lexicon of corrections. But that is only the beginning of his legacy. Translating theory to practice and then implementing it in countless criminal justice agencies represents his second monumental contribution to correctional and forensic psychology. The tools he developed were vital to his linking assessment with intervention and his translating theory and research to policy and practice. He also insisted that these efforts be conducted in a humane and just manner.

Differential association theory and juvenile delinquency in Ghana's capital city - Accra: The case of Ghana borstal institute

Current sociological theories argue that, delinquency results from economic and family relational problems. Unable to have their parents meet their material needs, children turn to all sorts of activities, many of which eventually lead to delinquent acts. Other theories focus on the role of peer relationships in determining deviancy. Using Edwin Sutherland’s differential association theory, this study explores the notion that, delinquency in inmates of the Ghana borstal institute is a reflection of the peer groups/friendship relations they hanged out with. Data for the study were collected from the Ghana borstal institute, a correctional institution for reforming juvenile offenders with structured questionnaire. The findings point to the presence of Differential Association at the onset of inmate’s delinquent behaviours though circumspection is recommended in the attempts to validate differential association as the study was carried out on institutionalized, verified group of delinquent juveniles. The close relationship between differential association and delinquency may not be present in noninstitutionalized juvenile offenders.

Are You Kynd? Conformity and Deviance Within the Jamband Subculture

I use measures of interpersonal involvement specific to differential association theory to explain variation within the jamband subculture. Specifically, I examine the relationship between the differential association modalities (frequency, intensity, priority, and duration) and the affective meanings (evaluation, potency, and activity) associated with six behaviors that are relevant to that subculture. I expect the modalities to be related positively to the evaluation and potency of four prosocial (what I term “kynd”) behaviors (to barter, to follow a band, to share, to trade music) and negatively to the evaluation and potency of two “unkynd” behaviors (to talk down, to threaten). Using data from self-administered surveys (n = 379), I find that frequency and intensity predict variation in the affective meaning of kynd and unkynd behaviors. However, priority and duration generally do not predict variation in the affective meaning of kynd and unkynd behaviors.

Friendship and Delinquency: Selection and Influence Processes in Early Adolescence

AbstractPositive association of relevant characteristics is a widespread pattern among adolescent friends. A positive association may be caused by the selection of similar others as friends and by the deselection of dissimilar ones, but also by influence processes where friends adjust their behavior to each other. Social control theory argues that adolescents select each other as friends based on delinquency. Differential association theory, on the other hand, argues that adolescent friends influence each other's delinquency levels. We employ new statistical methods for assessing the empirical evidence for either process while controlling for the other process. These methods are based on ‘actor‐oriented’ stochastic simulation models. We analyze longitudinal data on friendship networks and delinquent behavior collected in four waves of 544 students in 21 first‐grade classrooms of Dutch secondary schools. Results indicate that adolescents select others as friends who have a similar level of delinquency compared with their own level. Estimates of the social influence parameters are not significant. The results are consistent with social control theory but provide no support for differential association theory.

페미니스트 관점에 근거한 소녀비행 요인의 검증을 통한 성-특성적 이론의 모색

지금까지 일반적인 청소년비행을 설명하는 이론들은 많은 발전을 이루었지만, 여성 특히 여자청소년의 비행에 관련되는 요인들을 설명하는 이론들은 극히 소수이고, 대표적인 청소년비행 이론들은 성 중립적인 사회이론으로 소년들의 비행을 설명하는데 적합한 것들이다. 따라서 여성의 특수하고 독특한 경험을 반영하는 여자청소년의 비행에 보다 설득력 있는 요인을 도출해낼 수 있는 성-특성적(gender-specific) 이론이 필요하다고 본다. 이러한 문제에 관심을 가졌던 페미니스트 학자들은 여자청소년의 비행을 설명하는 성 특성적 요인들의 검증을 수행하였고, 소녀들의 비행을 설명하는데 적절한 요인들에 대한 학자들 간에 일치가 이루어지지는 않고 있지만, 일부 요인들은 소년들보다는 소녀들의 비행을 설명하는데 보다 적절하다는데 합의하였다. 이에 이 연구에서는 여자청소년의 비행을 설명하는데 적절한 성 특성적 요인들로 알려진 요인들로서 개인적 상황에 대한 불만, 스스로의 일탈적 낙인과 주위의 일탈적 낙인, 자존감, 부모로부터의 학대나 주변 사람으로부터의 범죄 피해 경험 등의 요인과 비행의 관계를 한국청소년 패널조사(KYPS) 자료를 이용하여 검증하였다. 연구결과 선행연구 결과와 완전히 일치하지는 않지만, 대부분의 요인들이 소년들의 비행 보다는 소녀들의 비행을 설명하는데 설명력이 높은 것으로 나타나 이러한 요인들에 대한 후속연구의 수행을 통해 성-특성적 이론의 가능성을 고려해 볼 수 있다는 점에서 의미 있는 연구라고 생각된다. This research examines the relation of dissatisfaction about own real conditions, deviant labeling, self-esteem, abuse from parent, victimization and juvenile delinquency(smoking, drinking, run-away, assault, taking away stuffs or money, larceny). The evidence of a strong relation of these factors and girls' delinquency is well known through empirical researches by feminist criminologists. Feminist criminology had attention to the gender-specific factors that could explain girls' delinquency. Most of conventional delinquency theories, such as social bond theory, differential association theory, focused on bad boys' deviant behaviors. These theories has not been designed to apply to girls' troubles. According to the conclusion of the research, there seems to support researches of feministic perspectives.

Epidemiological Criminology: Drug Use Among African American Gang Members

Epidemiological methods and public health theories can be tied to theories of crime and delinquency and used to create evidence-based policy. Interdisciplinary theoretical approaches to existing, and emerging, public health and criminal justice problems hold great promise. Differential association theory postulates that close association with delinquent peers leads to an increase in deviant activities such as illicit drug use. Social cognitive theory postulates that health behavior change is driven by the interaction of (a) cognitive states that support a health outcome, (b) the social and contextual environment, (c) and individual action. Combined, these theories can be applied to drug eradication programs as well as other health and crime issues. Focus groups and interviews were performed to identify rates of illicit substance use among incarcerated African American adolescent male gang members and nongang members. The policy recommendations illustrate the convergence of criminological and epidemiological theory under the new paradigm of epidemiological criminology or ''EpiCrim.''

De co-evolutie van vriendschapsrelaties en delinquent gedrag onder Nederlandse jongeren

The co-evolution of friendship relations and delinquent behaviour among Dutch adolescents .This article focuses on two research questions. To what degree is similarity in delinquent behaviour among Dutch secondary school students explained by selection and influence processes? And to what extent is the effect of friends’ delinquency on adolescents’ delinquency level moderated by characteristics of the friendship relation? Hypotheses were drawn from Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory, its extension by Burgess and Akers, and Hirschi’s Social Control Theory. The hypotheses were tested with longitudinal social network data, using the recently developed software program ‘Simulation Investigation for Empirical Network Analysis’ (SIENA). The network data were gathered among lower educated students of twelve secondary schools in the Dutch province of South Holland during a three-year period. The analyses suggest that adolescents tend to adjust their behaviour to the delinquency level of their peers (influence process), and tend to be friends with others who have a similar level of delinquency (selection process). Further, the results indicate that attachment to friends, time spent with friends and social pressure of friends do not affect the influence of peers on adolescents’ delinquency level.

Self-control, differential association, and gang membership: A theoretical and empirical extension of the literature

Using data gathered from a sample of two hundred jail inmates housed in a large California city, this research extends the still nascent literature on the self-control/gang membership association. The article begins by first articulating more comprehensively than earlier research Gottfredson and Hirschi's theoretical justification for expecting a self-control/gang membership link. Next, an examination is undertaken of the relative independent influences on gang membership of self-control and a series of measures, derived from differential association theory, that mainly tap familial gang involvement. On the whole, logistic regression models suggested that self-control exerted an effect on gang membership that was almost entirely independent of, but also modest in comparison to, familial gang involvement effects, although the results also indicated the insignificance of self-control upon controlling for a series of differential association measures. Finally, theoretical implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are offered.

An Examination of Differential Association and Social Control Theory

This study applies differential association and social control theories to juvenile delinquency. Using a path analysis model, relationships between family, self-image, and behavior are explored. Analyses suggest that positive self-image leads to decreased delinquency, and association with delinquent peers is the greatest predictor of delinquent behavior, regardless of race.

Inter-and Intragenerational Transmission of Aggressive Tendencies among Adolescents

The present study analyzes the extent to which the aggressive tendencies of male and female adolescents are associated with the same tendencies of significant others in and outside the family. Aggressive tendencies are defined as the participants subjective evaluation of their own intention to react to aggression, and their evaluation of their father’s, mother’s, and closest same-gender friends intentions. The study is based on a sample of 292 male and female adolescents. Results indicate that aggressive tendencies of both male and female adolescents are associated only with those of their same-gender parents and closest same-gender friend. The consistency of the finding with Sutherland’s differential association theory and Bandura’s social learning theory is discussed.