The theory doesn't even try to explain where the first, original unfavorable definition comes from. It sensitizes criminologists to the role of ideas, not social conditions, as influences on criminal behavior. In sociology, there's also a group of theories called differential identification, which deal with imaginary, or comparative reference groups as influential in perceiving deviance as respectable. Then, through differential reinforcement, they learn how to reap rewards and avoid punishment by reference to the actual or anticipated consequences of given behaviors. These consequences are the social and nonsocial reinforcements that provide a support system for those with criminal careers or persistent criminality.
Structural conditions affect a person's differential reinforcements.
Criminal knowledge is gained through reflection over past experience. Potential offenders consider the outcomes of their past experiences, anticipate future rewards and punishments, and then decide which acts will be profitable and which ones will be dangerous. Criminal behavior is learned through conditioning or imitation. Criminal behavior is learned both in nonsocial reinforcing situations or nonsocial discriminative situations and thru social interaction. The principal components of learning occur in groups.