He felt that criminal behavior was learned. The person learned the behavior by associating with persons who condoned criminal behavior. Differential Association is based on 9 principles governing the learning process.
Criminal behavior is no different than any other behavior that is learned.
The primary associations that teach criminal behavior or intimate relationships family, school, peers. Crimes cannot successfully performed without the skills and they are learned. The intimate relationships also teach the drives and motivations required to commit a crime. Particularly when the behavior is seen as having more rewards than negative consequences the behavior witll continue. If the consequences are greater than the rewards the behavior will stop.