Exam 10: Sexual Offending

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Both differential association and differential identification are considered individual-level explanations of sexual offending. Sutherland's differential association approach to understanding sexual offending suggests that sexual offenders engage in a learning process. The more an individual is exposed to favorable definitions of sexual offending, the more likely they will engage in sexually offending. They can learn techniques to accomplish sexual offenses, motivations to justify sexual offending, and rationalizations for why sexual offending is acceptable. While differential association theory might suggest that victims of childhood sexual abuse may later imitate this behavior and victimize others, Glaser's theory of differential identification explains the specific circumstances under which a victim of a sexual offense might go on to become a sexual offender. If the victim identifies with another person who views such behavior as acceptable, they are more likely to sexually offend. If a person who has been a victim of sexual abuse does not identify with his or her assailant, then they are less likely to become a sexual offender.