Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Edwin H. Sutherland’s theory of differential association explains crime as a learned behavior acquired through social interaction. Individuals become delinquent when they are exposed to more definitions favorable to law violation than to definitions unfavorable to it. This approach moves away from ideas of biological determinism or individual pathology and emphasizes the social context in
Delinquency and Drift by David Matza (1964) represents a landmark critique of both positivist criminology (e.g., Lombroso) and contemporary theories of juvenile delinquency like Cloward & Ohlin’s differential opportunity theory and Cohen’s subcultural theory. Matza challenges the behavioral determinism in these approaches and argues instead for a nuanced, interactionist understanding of delinquency as a temporary,
Edwin M. Lemert’s concept of primary and secondary deviance is one of the most influential contributions to labelling theory. Building on symbolic interactionism and early ideas from Frank Tannenbaum’s „tagging“ concept, Lemert showed how social reactions to initial rule-breaking can shape identities and careers in deviance. Key Points Primary and Secondary Deviance Main Proponent: Edwin