Criminal subcultures - crime and deviance

Question 1

Which study challenged Merton and questioned whether delinquency was directly motivated by the goals of mainstream culture?

Answer 1

Albert Cohen’s 1955 study on delinquent boys

Question 2

According to Cohen, what leads to cultural deprivation? (3)

Answer 2

• inequality
• little opportunity
• educational failure

Question 3

Outline Cohen’s theory of delinquent boys:

Answer 3

educational failure and limited opportunities for lower working class boys produces social frustrations. The boys turn to criminal activity to achieve a sense of success. Their goals change and a criminal subculture is born.

Question 4

What are the three types of subculture (within illegitimate opportunity structure)?

Answer 4

1. the criminal subculture
2. the conflict subculture
3. the retreatist subculture

Question 5

What times of crimes come under a criminal subculture?

Answer 5

organised crimes

Question 6

What times of crimes come under a conflict subculture?

Answer 6

violent crime, petty crime

Question 7

What times of crimes come under a retreatist subculture?

Answer 7

drug abuse

Question 8

According to Miller, what are the three features of deviant subcultures?

Answer 8

1. toughness
2. smartness
3. excitement

Question 9

Outline Matza’s theory of drift

Answer 9

Male delinquents are not in opposition to mainstream norms and values. Instead, society has a strong moral grasp and delinquents are only occasional law breakers who are able to neutralise their actions when they do.

Question 10

What are the techniques of neutralisation? (5)

Answer 10

• denial of responsibility
• denial of injury
• denial of victim
• condemnation
• appeal to higher loyalties

Question 11

What are subterranean values?

Answer 11

Values that are not socially accepted

Question 12

Outline Anderson’s study of inner city poor black youths in the US

Answer 12

through the formation of street codes, these individuals actively resist their conditions of inequality and instead create their own group identity. Law enforcement agencies and mainstream culture fail to support them so they see themselves in opposition to the mainstream norms

Question 13

Limitations of subcultural theories

Answer 13

• tends to focus on working class youth, exaggerating working class delinquent and ignoring crimes of the powerful
• ignores experiences of young females (both as criminals and victims)
• gender blindness