Cohen's sub-culture theory

Question 1

define sub-culture

Answer 1

a group of people in society who share norms, values and beliefs and attitudes that are in some ways different from the mainstream culture

Question 2

Cohens Sub-culture theories:

Answer 2

• the theories focus on the position of groups in the social structures rather than the individuals
• looks at how these groups adapt differently ways to the strain facing them in achieving goals
• subcultural theories see subcultures as providing an alternative opportunity structure for those who are denied the chance to achieved status by legitimate means
• subcultures are a solution to a problem and therefore functional to their members, even if not to wider society.
• subcultural strain theories both criticize Mertons strain theory and build on it

Question 3

Cohen - status frustration

Answer 3

A.K Cohen (1955) agrees with Merton that deviance is largely a WC phenomenon, as it results from the ability of the WC to achieve success goals by legitimate means. As a result they experience status frustration which leads to them committing crime
Cohen criticizes Merton because:
1. Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain, which ignores the fact that much deviance is committed in groups mainly by the young.
2. Merton ignores non utilitarian such as violent crime and vandalism- as he focuses on crime with an economic motive

Question 4

what two reasons did Cohen have for criticizing Merton’s explanation of deviance:

Answer 4

1. Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain, which ignores the fact that much deviance is committed in groups mainly by the young.
2. Merton ignores non utilitarian such as violent crime and vandalism- as he focuses on crime with an economic motive

Question 5

Alternative Status hierarchy:

Answer 5

Delinquent subculture turns the value of mainstream society upside down, so what society condemns, the subculture praises, i.e. gaining status by vandalizing a bus stop, this offers boys an alternative status hierarchy in which they can achieve

Question 6

Example arrows:

Answer 6

W.c taught M.C norms and values > WC Children can’t achieve MC norms and values > suffer status frustration > WC reject norms and values > Delinquent subcultures form > this offers an alternative route to gain status

The WC resolve their frustration by rejecting mainstream MC values and create a delinquent subculture. i.e spite, malice, hostility. They invert the values of mainstream society and value problematic things such as ‘truancy, vandalism, fighting’. it offers alternative status, they are getting back at a society that had denied them status, not motivated by financial gain

Question 7

Cohen’s sub-culture theory evaluation:

Answer 7

+ explain WC delinquency as a group response rather than being focused on individuals
+ explains non-utilitarian crime

• assumes that WC delinquents accept mainstream MC values as superior
  . Miller - argues the WC have also had their own independent subcultures
  . Paul Willis - the lads never accepted MC values and never aspired to be MC, and therefore adopted an anti school subculture
• Matza found that most young delinquents drifted in and out of delinquency rather than showing any serious commitment