ATS2456 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Differential Association, Cybercrime, Operant Conditioning
27 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
Cybercrime is different in that it provides a venue for new offences as well as enabling existing offences. The fact that we can apply criminological theories to these offences shows that some factors are consistent both on and offline. Subcultural theories > groups exist with values, beliefs and ideas contrary to mainstream. Individuals can learn and be encouraged for criminal behaviours using a distinct language to refer to these behaviours and displaying outwards expression of membership including tattoos and clothing. Social learning theory > argues that crime is a learned behaviour from models (family/other relationships), individuals learn techniques to offend, motives and rationalisations are also acquired. Akers (1998) developed sutherland"s theory into social learning theory by linking differential association with operant conditioning. Crime is comprised of a few processes: differential association with deviant others, definitions supportive of crime, imitation of peers" offending behaviour, differential reinforcement of offending.
