Cressey's Theory Of Deviant Behaviour

The theories described by Hirschi provide reasoning for why an individual would choose not to act upon their deviant sexual desires, but does not explain why one would. With all of the societal discouragement of the behaviour, why would a person choose to act? The Differential Association Theory by Edwin H. Sutherland and Donald R. Cressey attempts to explain why one would engage in deviant behaviour. The extensive theory has a few key points that are particularly relevant to pedophilia. Firstly, the authors argue that deviant behaviour is learned. This is certainly true in our society, especially in the case of ‘barely legal’ porn. The sexualization of youth, particularly young girls, is rampant in our society. This can be observed in clothing ads, where companies market lingerie lines specifically to pre-teens, or in film, where older, more developed women are often cast as high school girls.
Another aspect of this theory is the idea that deviant behaviour is learned in interactions with others. This can also be applied to pedophilia. Sexual conversations about young girls and women, occasionally diminished as ‘locker-room talk’, describe girls as ‘jail-bait’, a term which is often used when an adult is attracted to a minor, and would otherwise act on this

In relation to pedophilia, this would be learning the ways of satisfying pedophilic urges without being caught. This can incredibly detrimental, as it may delay the person seeking treatment for the disorder. Sutherland and Cressey also state that “differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity” (Terrell et al, 2001, 147). In this sense, people suffering from pedophilia may not always recognize that their behaviours are wrong, and that this feeling of ‘wrongness’ may vary depending on a variety of internal and external