Sutherland - learning from others
- individuals learn criminal behaviour by becoming part of a close group to whom offending has become the norm
- some subcultures in society are organised so that the norms are favourable towards criminal activity whilst others are organised so that the norms are favourable to such law violation
- if individuals come into contact with attitudes in favour of criminal activity then they will consider crime acceptable - learnt behaviour
- may learn from their social groups specific techniques for breaking the law
- theory can explain why any individual may learn and so be drawn into a life of crime and why crime rates are higher in some neighbourhoods than others.
Farington - disrupted families
- whether delinquent and criminal behaviour can be predicted, why it begins and why adult crime often ends when men reach their 20s.
- boys interviewed at home and school, then research office when older