An Integrated Learning-Opportunity Theory of Deviance: Testing for Differences and Similarities between Sex and Race Groups

• In Event: Applications of Routine Activity Theory to Cybercrime and Terrorism

Abstract

Integrated theory has been offered as a solution to the theoretical stagnation in criminology. In the current paper, definitional and learning concepts from differential association theory were integrated with elements from opportunity theory to provide a general explanation for deviance. In particular, over 300 undergraduate students, enrolled in courses in criminal justice and criminology at an ethnically diverse college in the southeastern United States, were surveyed about their use and misuse of information technology. Support for the integrated model was demonstrated using multivariate regression techniques. Moreover, additional analyses were performed on subgroups of students (i.e., sex/race/ethnic categories, etc.) to explore differences and similarities in students’ use and misuse of information technology.

Author

• Wayne Gillespie, Georgia Gwinnett College