During the 1950s two predominant theories of criminal behavior were Edwin H. Sutherland's differential association theory and Robert K. Merton's anomie theory. Sutherland argued that criminal behavior is learned in the same manner as other behaviors; people who are socialized to sanction criminal behavior are likely to become criminals. [Source: Encyclopedia of Social Problems; Illegitimate Opportunity Structures]
illegitimate opportunity structures
concepts
crime and deviance