Strain theorists

Question 1

point?

Answer 1

cultural-structural opportunity contradiction causes crime because modern societies culturally encourage success or achievement by any means but structurally deny opportunities for success or achievement to certain social groups.

Question 2

evidence?

Answer 2

Merton

American culture’s focus on material wealth/status and the structures that mean oppressed social groups lack opportunities to achieve these cultural goals.

creates a pressure to deviant and illegal ways to gain wealth, status, and achieve the American dream.

Question 3

analysis?

Answer 3

Retreatists, like alcoholics reject the goals and legitimate means of achieving them.

Rebels, like hippies reject the cultural goals but try to use illegitimate means to create new goals.

Question 4

evaluation?

Answer 4

Durkheim, would argue that rebels are actually producing adaptive changes to boundaries

rebels are not creating new goals but reorganising the value consensus

Question 5

point? 2

Answer 5

crime and deviance are caused by subcultural alternative status hierarchies

Question 6

evidence? 2

Answer 6

Cohen argues the education system in modern societies leads young, working-class men to seek status through joining criminal subcultures

Question 7

analysis? 2

Answer 7

Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin

criminal subcultures, like the Mafia, provide a stable career in material crime.

conflict subcultures, such as territory gangs, use violence acts

retreatist subcultures, like homeless groups and drug users, fail to legitimately and illegitimately succeed

Question 8

evaluation? 2

Answer 8

Durkheim, would criticise this strain theory argument because it suggests crime and deviance isn’t a positive function of society.