Strain theory and subcultures Flashcards
What does Merton say about the American dream?
Everyone has equal access to opportunities if they are willing to work hard for it.
People engage in deviant behaviour when they can’t achieve goals by legitimate means, become frustrated and try to achieve goals through criminal means.
What’s the strain theory?
Explains the relationship between crime and structural factors.
What are structural factors?
Society has unequal opportunity structure which is class focused.
What are cultural factors?
Strong emphasis on success goals
Weak emphasis on legitimate means.
What are the five ways an individual respond to society?
Conformity
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion
What are the negatives of strain theory?
Assumes a value consensus
Marxists argue it ignores the laws criminalise the poor
Only explain untilitarian crime
Ignores roles groups may play in crimes, focuses on individuals
Too deterministic
Ethnocentric study (westernised)
What do cloward and ohlin say?
they agree with merton but argue people don’t have opportunity for illigitamate opportunity structure aswell
There are three subcultures
What are the three subcultures?
Criminal subcultures
Conflict subcultures
Retreatist subcultures
What are criminal subcultures?
Property crime
Areas with established criminal networks
What are conflict subcultures?
Gang organised
Young
Claiming teritory.
What are retreatist subcultures?
Fail both illigitamate and legitimate means so turn to illegal drugs and achoholism
‘double failures’
What does Cohen say?
Status frustration
Crime is mainly a working class phenomenon
Focused on working class boys in schools who succeeded in middle class environments
Because of failure students are more likely to join deviant subcultures .
What is alternative status hierarchy?
Fail in school so try to succeed in own subcultures.
What are positives of alternative status hierarchy?
Explains violent crimes
What are negatives of alternative status hierarchy?
Assumes middle class value consensus
