What are the strengths and weaknesses of Sutherlands differential association?

Answer 1

Sutherland's differential association theory emphasizes the role of social interactions in the development of criminal behavior, highlighting that criminality is learned through communication and exposure to deviant values. A key strength is its focus on the social context of crime, which provides insight into the influence of peer groups and environments. However, a significant weakness is its lack of consideration for individual factors, such as Biology or psychology, that may also contribute to criminal behavior. Additionally, it can be challenging to empirically measure the specific influences of differential associations in real-world scenarios.