Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M5398

Differential Association

Differential Association
CultureHigh supportSociology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Criminal behavior is not innate but learned. A person commits crimes because, in intimate interactions with others, they encounter more definitions favorable to violating the law than unfavorable ones.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

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The mechanism of "near vermilion, one becomes red." It explains why "Mencius's mother moved three times" is effective. The shaping of individuals by the environment is not abstract but accomplished through concrete, high-frequency "definition exchanges." If everyone around you thinks "tax evasion is smart," you will eventually think so too.

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Sutherland proposed: deviance is learned—when in intimate interactions the definitions favorable to violating the law outweigh those unfavorable, the individual is more likely to violate the law; frequency, duration, priority, and intensity determine the strength of influence.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_associationZH · Explicit
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