Differential association theory is an ideology that explains people’s criminal behavior or activities. It posits that people learn values, behavioral characteristics, techniques and motives for criminal behavior from their association …show more content…
Firstly, the differential association theory has a strength in that it tells of the learner’s closest friends. It is thus beneficial in that one can be able to detect how a person’s close interactions with people of a particular known set of behavior can influence their behavior. Brandi’s mother and teachers could therefore have sensed her likelihood of engaging into criminal behavior by observing who her close friends are and maybe correct her in advance. This theory has a limitation in this context because at times people engage in certain behaviors independently by way of their own rational judgment. Therefore, there is likelihood that Brandi may not have been influenced by her …show more content…
There is a probability that Brandi’s engagement in smoking was just an isolate act she tried out of curiosity and it does not really reflect her general personal behavior. This theory therefore fits in in that it holds one can engage into a criminal act from mere observation and that the act does not really imply a deep relationship with the people who are deep into that behavior. Lastly, this theory has a limitation in that it also do not explain independence of judgment and or independent traits of a person. Brandi needed not have learnt that behavior but it could have developed