Glossary D

Glossary D

Please see Psychometric approach.

Differential association refers to the sociological thesis that criminality, like any other form of behavior, is learned through a process of association with others who communicate criminal values.

- Differential association theory : Differential association theory refers to a theory of criminality based on the principle that an individual becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions learned that are favorable to violation of law over definitions learned that are unfavorable to violation of law.

Differential association-reinforcement is defined as a theory of criminality based on the incorporation of Psychological learning theory and differential association with Social learning theory. As the theory claims, Criminal behavior is learned through associations and is contained or discontinued as a result of positive or negative reinforcements.

Differential carryover effects refers to a problem in within subject experimental designs when exposure to earlier conditions alters behavior on later conditions

Differential diagnoses refer to competing diagnoses the clinician should consider before settling on a particular mental disorder diagnosis. These are listed in the DSM text for every disorder to help to clinician avoid overlooking other possible mental disorders the client might be experiencing.

Differential diagnosis refers to the determination of which of two (2) or more possible diagnoses is most appropriate for a client; the process of systematically ruling out alternative diagnoses. Moreover, Differential diagnosis is the process of being able to differentiate one condition or disorder from another through the use of set diagnostic criteria. The term is based on a medical-disease model in which accurate diagnosis is believed to inform a clinician about effective treatments.

Differential effects is a term used in a Research study that refers to the time related threats to internal validity that affect the groups differently. For example, differential history effects, differential instrumentation effects, differential maturation, differential testing, and differential regression.