Subcultural Flashcards
What is the subcultural perspective of crime?
Try to explain why juvenile delinquency has a subcultural character, it is committed as part of a wider group or gang.
Albert Cohen
Lower Class Reaction Theory & Status Frustration
As young working class boys are unable to live up to middle class values of wider society, they experience a form of anomie called status frustration.
These boys use deviance as a means of reacting against a society which is dominated by middle class values, they seek self esteem by rejecting these values and forming gangs or subcultures.
The most delinquent activity is performed for status positions within the gang
Walter Miller
Focal Concerns
Suggests working class delinquents are acting out and exaggerating the mainstream values of male working class subcultures.
Working class youth subcultures has developed a series of focal concerns to give meaning to their lives outside of education and low level work:
*Fate - little can be done about their lives what will be will be
*Autonomy - independence from authority like parents is important
*Toughness - concern for masculinity
*Trouble - accept their lives will involve violence
*Excitement - search for thrills
*Smartness - capacity to outfox, outwit and dupe others
Cloward and Ohlin
Differential Opportunity Structures
Suggested lower working class boys have their own deviant values.
When they are denied access to succeed in the traditional labour market, young boys are attracted to the illegitimate opportunity structure of crime.
This consists of 3 types of delinquent subcultures:
*Criminal Careers - interested in money
*Conflict Subcultures - engage in respect driven violence
*Retreatist Subcultures - interested in drugs, can’t make money or achieve status from crime
David Matza
Delinquency Drift
Suggests that individuals offend at certain times of their lives.
Crime is highest when social control is weakest.
Crime is most obvious during teenage years where there is reduced supervision.
Once sufficient responsibilities are developed people tend to mature out of criminal lifestyles, hence delinquency drift.
David Matza
Subterranean Values
Formal Values - we all see, these are societal values, e.g success, wealth, qualifications
Subterranean Values - everyone has these values, but are hidden for most of the population, we are able to control these values, e.g violence, alcohol abuse
Matza and Sykes
Techniques of Neutralisation
Suggests we’re all aware of formal values, these are internalised and prevent us from committing crime.
It provides internal/psychological justification for a deviant act.
