What concept explains the expectation of criminal behavior arising from cultural norms?

Differential Association is the concept that explains how criminal behavior can be learned through interactions with others and the cultural norms within a specific group or society. This theory, developed by Edwin Sutherland, posits that individuals are more likely to engage in criminal behavior when they are exposed to values and norms that define such behavior as acceptable or desirable.

In this context, individuals learn criminal behavior in the same way that they learn other types of behavior—through communication and socialization within their environment. For example, if someone grows up in an environment where illegal activities are normalized and celebrated, they are more likely to adopt those behaviors as part of their own social identity. Therefore, the expectation of criminal behavior arising from cultural norms is directly linked to the idea that behavior is influenced by the groups we associate with and the values they promote.

The other concepts do not capture this specific aspect of behavior in the same way. Cultural Deflection, for instance, does not have established significance in criminology. Social Conditioning relates more broadly to how society influences individual behavior but doesn’t focus on the transmission of specific criminal behaviors through social groups. Adaptive Behavior refers to an individual's ability to adjust to their environment, which again does not specifically address the learned nature of criminality through cultural norms