Exploring Differential Association Theory in Boyz N the Hood

Introduction

To explore differential association theory, this essay analyzes the behavior of the main characters in Boyz N The Hood, Tre, Ricky, and Doughboy, as they navigate their lives in a community plagued by poverty and violence. The paper delves into how Sutherland's theoretical concept of differential association, along with the concepts of conformity and deviance, shape the characters' experiences and behaviors in South Central Los Angeles. Through a detailed analysis of specific scenes in the film, this essay explores how the characters' interactions with their environment, peers, and family members contribute to their involvement in criminal activity. The essay also addresses the limitations of the differential association theory, and how it may not fully account for the complex socio-economic factors that contribute to the characters' struggles in this environment.

Theoretical Synopsis

The Differential Association Theory is a subcultural theory of criminality which falls under the category of Social Learning Theories that attempt to explain that individuals learn how and why to commit crimes through a process of socialization. Social Learning Theories, emphasize that the engagement in criminal behavior rather than conventional behavior come from the association with significant others like family, friends, or acquaintances.

The Differential Association Theory was developed by sociologist and professor Edwin Sutherland who while taking on a psychological approach created the theory to explain the reasons behind how individuals learn to become criminals. Sutherland’s ideas were influenced by the Chicago School of Sociologists and falls under the sociological paradigm of Symbolic Interactionism which is a micro-level theoretical approach that focuses on one to one interactions and communications. His model included nine principles, the first which said that criminal behavior is learned as is it a result of normal social processes when individuals associate with the wrong people. The second principle, which said that criminal behavior is learned by interacting with others through a process of communication like words and gestures. The third, which stated that learning criminal behavior primarily occurs within intimate personal groups. The fourth principle stated that when criminal behavior is learned, this learning includes the techniques of committing a crime as well as learning the motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes towards crime. The fifth one which said that legal codes express what is good or bad. The sixth principle, one of the most important ones to note suggested that individuals could have associations that favored both criminal and non-criminal behavior patterns. However, if an individual is receiving more info and values that are pro-crime and they exceed those anti-crime then the individual would engage in criminal activity. The seventh principle highlighted the four modalities included in Sutherland’s theory which were frequency, duration, priority, and intensity. These four modalities are crucial for explaining criminal activity as the amount of time an individual is exposed and how early in life they are encountered with criminal behaviors determines the value he or she will give to the situation and whether or not these behaviors will influence the individual committing a crime or not. The eighth principle stated that like any other behavior, criminal behavior could be learned in the same way. Lastly, that criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values and that any normal person could be a criminal as long as he or she was exposed to such behaviors.

Application To A Movie

The film Boyz N The Hood is a 1991 film based on the lives of three young males Tre, Ricky and Doughboy who grow up in the ghetto of South Central Los Angeles. The film follows the lives of these three males from childhood to adulthood capturing the different paths each take though growing up in the same deviant neighborhood. Throughout the movie Tre, Ricky and Doughboy are all exposed to deviant behavior however are not all engaged in it. Throughout the film, there are many instances where deviant behavior is passed on through leading examples and their behaviors in such cases can be expressed through the criminological theory of Differential Association. One of the characters in the film, Doughboy was always being bashed by his mother and spent most of his time with a group of friends who were up to no good. He eventually grew up learning from his peer influences and got arrested for stealing, dropped out of high school and became a member of the Crips which led him to engage in sex, drugs, and alcohol. His brother, on the other hand, Ricky had a close relationship with Tre and was influenced by his mother who portrayed him as goal-oriented which he eventually adapted to and stayed in school leading him to gain a football to USC. These two characters are a great example of Differential Association theory being put into play as Doughboy’s actions were learned from his relationships and although Ricky’s life turned out to be very different his behaviors were also a result of the relationships he carried. Their relationships are a great example of how the four modalities work, Doughboy hung out with the same people all the time and eventually adapted to their negative values and thought a strong friendship eventually saw them as priority. Whereas Ricky who spent most of his time with Tre and was raised with positive values allowed him to adapt to the ideal of being goal-oriented. Lastly, Tre who grew up in two different households and was exposed to deviant behaviors through his relationship with Doughboy and non-deviant behaviors through his relationships at home and with Ricky. In one instance, while in school Tre is confronted by a classmate and reacting in anger to the threat he strikes his classmate, here Tre’s deviant behavior is explained through the relationship he held with his community. Growing up in a violent community and seeing people getting beat up led him to become numb to the fact that violence was okay. Another example of Tre being deviant is that of him being at his father's house and answering his mother's phone call with “Who dis?”, Tre was aware that his response was disrespectful and did it anyway as his father does it too. In this case, the idea that it was okay for his father to do it allowed him to believe it was okay too.

Alternative Explanations

Though there were other evident theories that oculi have been applied to this file, the Differential Association theory was the most important as the behaviors of all characters throughout the film were a result of the relationships they held. That being said, many incidents occurred in the film that could not deeply be explained only through the Differential Association theory as others were involved. Other significant theories that were involved in the film were Labeling Theory, this theory possesses that people take on roles in terms of how they are labeled. For example, at the beginning of the film Doughboy’s mother tells him he will never amount to anything labeling him as insignificant which is a role he takes on as he grows up. Another significant theory is that of structural strain theory which says that when goals are not met individuals defer to violence. An example of this involves Doughboy again when he is young and enters a store without money. He leans towards committing a criminal act instead of finding a way to earn money.

Conclusion

This theory, explains that criminals commit crimes based upon interaction with others as individuals learn and adopt values, attitudes, motivations, and techniques for criminal behavior. Edwin Sutherland posits that individuals learn deviant behavior and that it is less of a personal choice and more of a result of the differential association process. He argues that individuals learn deviant behavior from those close relationships as they provide models and opportunities for this most of the time.