Subcultural strain theories

Question 1

Why did Cohen criticise Merton’s ideas on strain theory ?

Answer 1

Because he ignored group deviance and crimes without material gain

Question 2

What is a WC subculture response to not being able to achieve MC norms and values ?

Answer 2

The formation of a subculture in order to find and be awarded status

Question 3

Cloward and Ohlin agree with merton in the sense that deviance occurs mainly from an inability for lower class people to achieve middle class goals but how does their opinion differ ?

Answer 3

C&O attempt to explain different subcultural responses to strain theory, in their theory the key reason being the lack of meritocratic society

Question 4

C&O argue that different neighbourhoods provide different illegitimate opportunities for youth, and they identify 3 key deviant subcultures what are they ?

Answer 4

Criminal subcultures
Conflict subcultures
Retreatist subcultures

Question 5

What are criminal subcultures ?

Answer 5

There is already a subculture that young members can join. This subculture allows for young members to climb the hierarchy to achieve success

Question 6

What are conflict subcultures ?

Answer 6

There isn’t a subculture established, leading to the formation of young subcultures, who conflict with other rival subcultures to achieve status in society

Question 7

What are retreatist subcultures ?

Answer 7

There isn’t already a subculture in existence, and there is no opportunity for conflict, resulting in a retreat into drugs and alcohol.

Question 8

What are some criticisms of both Cohen and C&O ?

Answer 8

They attempt to over predict the amount of working class crime and believe its impossible to belong to more than one subculture

Question 9

What did south (2014) find ?

Answer 9

That drug trade is a mixture of conflict subculture and criminal subculture

Question 10

What is the alternative cultural view on crime and deviance that Miller (1962) suggests and why ?

Answer 10

He believes that the working class youth can never accept mainstream norms and values, instead saying they embrace their own distinctive set of norms and values

Question 11

What is the effect of the distinct working class norms and values ?

Answer 11

Because these values are different from middle class values, they are seen as deviant by middle class law enforcers