Critiques of Differential Association Too focused on juvenile delinquency and other relatively minor forms of deviance Such groups might include gangs, sports teams, recreation groups, church groups, etc.

Theoretically defined structural variables includes anomie, class oppression, social disorganization, group conflict, normative conflict Differential social location in groups denotes membership in various groups. Although criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those general needs and values because noncriminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning 9. Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity (variation in how often the exposer occur, the length of the exposure, how early on in life one is expose, and the respect or admiration one holds for the persons proving the definitions) 8. A person becomes become delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of the law (for instances, someone may start smoking to appear cool) 7. The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal code as favorable or unfavorable (deviance is learned through exposure to definitions (statements, attitudes, beliefs) that are favorable or unfavorable to engage in particular activities) 6. When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes (a) techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very complicated, sometimes very simple, and (b) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes 5. The principle part of the learning of criminal behaviors occurs within intimate personal groups (deviance is learned from other people, particular intimate other, such as friends and family) 4.

Criminal behavior is learned in interactions with other persons in a process of communication 3. Criminal behavior is learned (it is not a biological trait that is inherited) 2.

Final Exposure by Fae Sutherland