Strain & Subcultural Theories

Question 1

Merton (1938)

Answer 1

Goals and means - when different there is strain

Types of person: conformist, ritualist, retreatist, innovator, rebel

The goals are wealth and the means are status

People turn to crime if they have few legal opportunities

Question 2

Albert Cohen (1955)

Answer 2

Subcultural theory: status frustration results in the inverting of s value system, which leads to deviance and crime

Delinquent behaviour most likely to develop among w/c boys doing badly in school

Lower class children invert traditional middle class norms, e.g. Manners –> no manners; looking ‘smart’ –> ‘Nike personalities’

Instead of trying to be good at school (because they know they won’t succeed) they try to be good at being delinquent

Non succeeding at school brings less success later in life, so they turn to crime

Eval: why would w/c boys start school with m/c values?

Question 3

Clowhard & Ohlin (1961)

Answer 3

Subcultural theory: illegitimate opportunity structures exist where a group is feared so has power

(Developing Cohen 1955)

Three subculture opportunities:

1. Criminal subculture - opportunity structure
2. Conflict subculture - when no opportunity structure
3. Retreatist subculture - when no subculture around. Takes drugs and lots of alcohol

Question 4

Walter Miller (1962)

Answer 4

Subcultural theory: working class focal concerns (values) are different to the law, so they end up breaking the law

Focal concerns: autonomy, fatalism, smartness, toughness, trouble, excitement (FATEST)

Eval: only considers boys

AND these are the values of nearly all young boys, regardless of class

Question 5

Matza

Answer 5

We all drift in and out of criminal behaviours

We all have subterranean values (we are all capable of committing a crime in certain situations)