SUBCULTURAL THEORIES Flashcards
Keys names for subcultural theories
Albert Cohen / Merton / Cloward and Ohlin / Miller / Matza
Outline Cohens status frustration theory in a form of subculture
1) w/c boys want material success but cannot achieve due to cultural deprivation
2) they suffer from status frustration - turn to criminal paths
3) an alternative set of norms and values are adopted
Criticisms of Cohens theory
- doesn’t include females
- BOX - states this only applies to a minority of delinquents
What did Cloward and Ohlin (C+O) say?
They argued of an Illegitimate Opportunity Structure: which is an illegal career in a subculture, which means they can achieve the goals
C+O also state that the w/c have three responses to a situation. What are they?
Criminal Subculture - utilitarian crimes, develop in w/c areas
Conflict Subculture - socially disorganised areas, status is achieved by violent acts
Retreatist Subculture - fail to achieve goals so turn to drugs
AO3 of C+O subculture theory
Taylor criticise - not everyone is committed to the goal of achieving wealth
South criticise - these subcultures often merge into each other
Miller argued of Focal Concerns, name three?
Smartness - be witty and look good
Excitement- be thrill seeking
Toughness - be physically stronger
Miller criticisms of focal concerns include…
- provides little evidence these are w/c values
- excludes women from this theory
Linking subcultural theories to contemporary Britain…
- Willis study on the lads
- Venkatesh - gang leader for a day
How can Murray from WPW link to subcultural theories?
Murray argued of a welfare depends which are outcasted by the media which creates an underclass subculture
Evaluate subcultural theory of crime
Taylor - criticises C+O and Merton as they assume everyone wants wealth
MATZA - criminals are committed to the same values, deviance is only possible when “techniques of neutralisation” are used
What are “Techniques of Neutralisation”?
- denial of responsibility
- denial of a victim
- offender feels a sense of unfairness
What is the term for a person who enters a state of drift which leads to deviant acts?
Subterranean Values (Matza) these values encourage acting on the spur of the moment
POTENTIAL 30 MARKER:
Is subcultural theory useful?
IT IS:
Cohen - shows how w/c boys experience cultural deprivation
C+O - illegitimate opportunity structure + criminal subculture
Miller - focal concerns
Murray - welfare state creates a subculture of welfare dependency
IT IS NOT:
Box - Cohens theory only applies to a minority
South - the three subculture often merge
FIND FOR MILLER?
Taylor - jobs have Gone abroad which means less work is available and show show people are not drawn to crime
