Differential Association Theory

Edwin Sutherland's 9 principles of Differential Association:

1. Criminal behaviour is learnt
2. Learning happens through interacting with/observing others
3. Learning happens within intimate personal groups (family, close friends etc)
4. Learning criminal behaviour involves learning techniques, motives and justifications
5. We learn to define laws as favourable or unfavourable to us
6. A person becomes a criminal when they have an excess of pro-criminal definitions (i.e. attitudes/values)
7. Differential associations (number of contacts with criminals over non-criminals) vary in duration, frequency, priority and intencity. 
8. Criminal behaviour is learnt in the same way as any other behaviour
9. Criminal behaviour is based on the same general needs an non-criminal behaviour