'When persons become criminals, they do so because of contacts with criminal patterns and also because of isolation from anti-criminal influences.' This statement represents an essential assumption that underlies ______________ theories.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement that criminal activity results from exposure to criminal behavior and lack of exposure to anti-criminal influences aligns with differential association theory, which posits that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others and exposure to values and beliefs that support criminal activity. Structural strain theory focuses on anomie and the disconnection between socially reinforced goals and the means to achieve those goals, labelling theory focuses on the impact of societal reactions to behavior, and constructionist theories take a more post-modern approach to understanding crime as a social construct. None of these theories directly address the idea of exposure to criminal influences as the cause of criminal activity.

'When Persons Become Criminals, They Do So Because of Contacts