Structural and Subcultural theories Flashcards
Who explained deviance through status frustration?
Cohen
Explains Cohen’s theory of deviance
Working class boys are denied any kind of status by the education system and get status frustration because they cannot achieve any goals. This causes them to come up with their own set of achievable goals and replace traditional values e.g.
Being rude instead of polite
being late
not listening to a teacher
not having respect for property (vandalism)
What is the illegitimate opportunity structure and who came up with it?
Where people who grow up in an area with a lot of crime socialises you into a life of deviance.
Cloward and Ohlin
What are the three different subcultures did Cloward and Ohlin came up with?
Criminal subcultures - utilitarian crime like theft as the local organised crime environment prevents other sorts of crime like vandalism to prevent heavy policing
Conflict subcultures - Socially disorganised areas where both illegal and legal means of success are blocked causing violence and street crime (often between groups fighting for status)
Retreatist subcultures - those who fail in school and in deviant sub cultures making them retreat into drug addiction paid by crime e.g. theft, prostitution
Which theorist believed that people are socialised into deviance through their class status?
Miller
How does Miller explain deviance
Its not a reaction to not being able to succeed, its a subculture shared by all lower class citizens. Lower classes have their own distinctive values that actively encourage lower class men to break the law.
What focal concerns did Miller see in the lower class subculture that, when exaggerated, leads to crime
Toughness
Smartness - outwitting others or conning them
Excitement - a search for thrills or emotional stimulus by breaking the law.
Who linked the underclass to crime?
Charles Murray
How did Charles Murray link the underclass to crime?
The underclass are responsible for a lot of crime as they don’t share the same values and morals as the rest of society; they strive to live for free and steal from people instead of wanting a good job and housing
What Sociologist agrees to some extent to Murray and how?
Taylor believes that they exist but they commit crimes as a result of material deprivation rather that unacceptable culture, committing utilitarian crime.
Who came up with drift theory?
Matza
What is drift theory?
Everyone shares the same values and norms but behaviour is adaptable and relies on free will. Delinquents are simply more likely to follow their subterranean values instead of conventional ones. This is because they try to justify their crimes e.g. “yes what I did was wrong but…” they know what they did was wrong.
