Functionalist subcultural strain theories Flashcards
What is a subcultural strain theories?
a theory that sees deviance as the product of a delinquent subculture with different values to those of mainstream society
- see subcultures as providing an alternative opportunity structure for those who are denied a chance to achieve it by legitimate means
- can build on mertons strain theory and criticise it
Cohen (1995)
- agrees with merton that deviance is the result of the inability of those in lower classes to achieve mainstream success through legitimate means
- however cohen sees deviance as an individual response to strain, ignoring patterns of criminal behaviour and focuses on utilitarian crime committed for material gain such as theft and fraud
- ignores non utilitarian crimes such as assault and vandaliosm
What does cohen focus on?
- he focuses on deviance among working class boys and the way they may respond to the strain they are experiencing in ways that are not related to money
- cultural deprivation
w/c do not have the means to achieve and lack the skills to conform to mainstream goals
which leads to the alternative status heirarchy - status frustration
cannot adjust to the law status so reject m/c values
when faced with failure they choose a delinquent subculture that already exists
which leads to the alternative status hierarchy
Alternative status hierarchy
- believes subculture values are characterised by spite, malice and hostility and contempt for those outside
essentially inverts the values of mainstream society and what society condemns these subcultures praise
e.g society upholds regular attendance in school whereas boys in subcultures gain status from truancy
Strengths and weaknesses of cohens theory of status frustration
- the theory does provide some reasons for crime that is not related to money which can explain why frustration leads to non material crimes
however not everyone shares the same values as middle class and these w/c might have not have these values to start with so they do not see themselves as a failure - does not prove his theory as they cannot be angry at something they never experience so why do they actually commit crime?
