Sociology Paper 1 Section A: Functionalist Explanations Youth Deviance Flashcards
Cloward and Ohlin: blocked opportunities
Youth deviance is a reaction to problems in achieving the values in mainstream culture. Just as people experience ‘blocked opportunities’ through legal means, not everyone can achieve through illegal means.
What are criminal subcultures?
Develop in slum areas where there is hierarchy of criminal opportunity
What are retreatist subcultures?
Youth fail to achieve legal or illegally, turning to addiction and petty crime.
What are conflict subcultures?
Unstable areas where moving out is high. Youth form gangs to defend.
Cohen: status frustration
Teenage boys desire respect in the eyes of their peers. A working class boy who clings to mainstream values will see himself as inferior compared to an academic middle class boy, despite being aware of these values.
