Crime and deviance- subculture theories Flashcards
What is a subculture
Groups that are perceived to deviate from the normative standards of the dominant culture.
Usually have their own norms and values
What is a youth culture
Cultural practice of members of this age group by which they express their identities and
demonstrate their sense of belonging to a particular group of young people
According to Cohen, WC boys failed at school resulting in what
Low status
According to Cohen how to WC boys cope with feelings of low status
By forming subcultures and gangs with values opposite to mainstream
Who can be used to support Cohen and why
Paul Willis
He found that WC class boys formed subcultures
According to Cohen what do subcultures do to mainstream social goals
Invert them into something negative
According to Cohen, delinquents value deviant or anti-social behaviour, even if if it doesn’t lead to financial reward.
True or false
True
What is a non-utilitarian crime
One that does not have financial gain.
Give 3x examples of non-utilitarian crimes
Arson
Grafiti
Speeding
Evaluating Cohen
-Cohen’s explanation on norms and values
It is unlikely that criminals think that much into the crime, e.g someone who is going to vandalise a bus stop has probably not thought too much into It
Evaluating Cohen
-Lyng and Katz
Argue criminals are more likely to do it for the ‘buzz’
Evaluating Cohen
-Issues with who Cohen thinks is committing crime
Cohen makes very little links to anyone other than WC boys
What is a criminal subculture
Organised crime (e.g mafia) where career criminals can socialise youths into
their own criminal career that might result in material success
What is a conflict subculture
Gangs organised by young people themselves, often based on claiming
territory from other gangs in so-called turf war
What is a retreatist subculture
Those who are unable to access either legitimate opportunity structure might
drop out altogether (as Merton said) but might do so as a group rather than
individually. These groups might abuse drugs, for example.
Who developed the illegitimate opportunity structure
(different types of subcultures)
Coward and Ohlin
Evaluating Cloward and Ohlin
-classification may not be realistic
Claim that these groups are distinct whereas many criminal gangs may have elements of two or more of these subcultures
Evaluating Cohen and Ohlin
-question of meritocracy
Do not question why in a meritocratic society described by most functionalists,
working class youths are denied access to legitimate opportunity structures
Evaluating Cloward and Ohlin
-gender
Do not explain why girls do not respond in the same way as boys.
What did Miller suggest about working class youths
They had a completely different set of norms and values, they have not rejected mainstream N&V they have just responded to them with failure or subcultural membership.
Who did Miller say that had crime and deviance rooted in their values
The working class
What are the focal concerns
WC values
Who developed the idea of focal concerns
Miller
What do focal concerns do to WC young people
Expose them to the dangers of crime
What were Miller’s 6 focal concerns
Excitement
Toughness
Smartness
Trouble
Autonomy
Fate
Evaluating Miller
-unclear class distinctions
It is unclear as to who Miller refers to as WC
Evaluating Miller
-functionalist contradiction
Contradicts that classic functionalist idea that the various institutions in
society ensure social solidarity and value consensus
Evaluating Miller
-feminist view
Some Feminists have pointed out that these focal concerns might be
masculine values rather than lower class ones
What does Matza say about ‘delinquent’ values
That we ALL have them, most of the time people can keep this controlled, it is a learned skill.
As we age what does Matza say we drift in and out of
Deviant and conformist
When does Matza say we are more likely to commit crime
When we are young
How do Matza prove their subterranean values argument
People seek to ‘neutralise’ their deviant acts
If people really had a different set of values (as stated by other
sociologists) when they behaved deviantly, they would believe their
deviant behaviour was appropriate/ correct
What are the five techniques of neutralisation Matza identifies
Denial of responsibility
Denial of injury
Denial of the victim
Condemnation of the
condemners
Appeal to higher
loyalties
Evaluating Matza
-issues with techniques of neutralisation
They may just appear as excuses
Evaluating Matza
-issues with criminal mindset
A criminal can be aware of what most consider acceptable
without sharing that belief
Evaluating Matza
-victimisation
Could be interpreted that victims are responsible for their victimhood
