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social science subjects > sociology > crime and deviance > illegitimate opportunity structures
... > social science subjects > sociology > social problems > social problems encyc > crime and deviance > illegitimate opportunity structures

Preferred term

illegitimate opportunity structures  

Definition

  • 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]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/illegitimate_opportunity_structures

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