Although _____ theory has difficulty explaining why upper-class individuals commit crime, differential association theory, a type of _____ theory, is able to do so by characterizing deviance as learned.
A) functionalist; symbolic interaction
B) functionalist; conflict
C) conflict; symbolic interaction
D) symbolic interaction; conflict

Question

Although _____  theory has difficulty explaining why upper-class individuals commit crime, differential association theory, a type of _____ theory, is able to do so by characterizing deviance as learned.
A) functionalist; symbolic interaction
B) functionalist; conflict
C) conflict; symbolic interaction
D) symbolic interaction; conflict

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Conflict theory traditionally focuses on the disparities between social classes and the power struggles that emerge from these disparities, which can explain why individuals from various social strata, including the upper class, might engage in criminal behavior. Differential association theory, rooted in symbolic interactionism, suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others. This theory can explain deviance across all social classes, including the upper class, by suggesting that individuals learn criminal behavior from the groups with which they associate.

Although _____ Theory Has Difficulty Explaining Why Upper-Class Individuals Commit