Competing Theoretical Explanations of Cocaine Use: Differential Association Versus Control Theory

• NCJ Number: 119981
• Journal: Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1989) Pages: 73-88
• Author(s): P T Macdonald
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Originially presented at the 25th annual meeting of the Acadamy of Criminal Justice Science, San Francisco, April 1988

Annotation

Questionnaires from 1517 respondents showed that 72 percent had used cocaine at least once, while 28 percent had never used it.

Abstract

These data about criminal cocaine use were used to test the efficacy of two competing theoretical models of criminal or delinquent behavior, employing both tabular and multiple regression techniques. Differential association theory, that criminal behavior is learned in a complex process occurring within intimate social groups, was found to be far more effective in explaining the use of cocaine than control theory, which postulates that delinquency is a result of insufficient bonding to conventional society. 2 tables, 40 references (Author abstract modified)