General criticisms Flashcards
Labelling theory
Labelling theory is critical of subcultural theories as they all neglect the role of the police. Police may target & label or stereotype young working-class people as potentially criminal & frequently stop, search & arrest them, whereas they may ignore similar behaviour demonstrated by middle-class youth because it does not fit the police’s interpretation of what is criminal or delinquent behaviour. Working-class criminality may therefore be socially constructed by police practices & interpretations rather than be the result of a strain between culture & structure.
Marxist theory
Marxism is a structural theory that argues crime is inevitable in capitalist societies because capitalism is criminogenic (by its very nature it causes crime). Therefore, it is the way society is structured that causes the behaviour we see in subcultural groups. Marxists would argue that subcultural theories can be criticised because individual motivations should not be the focus and wider power issues concerning who makes & enforces the law, and for what purpose, are completely overlooked.
