subcultural theories Flashcards
how do subcultural theories differ from the work of merton?
they’re built on merton’s work, but focus on the position of groups in the social structure rather than just on individuals, and how these groups adapt to the strain
what did Cohen contribute to subcultural theories?
-status frustration and the reactive delinquent subculture
how do working class youth experience status frustration?
they believe in the success goals of society, but the path to them is blocked due to educational failure, poverty etc
they feel it’s been denied to them by society
-cohen studied WC boys
how does the working class youth develop a reactive delinquent subculture?
-as a result of status frustration, make a group as they all face rejection
-develop their own values
-eg stealing to replace hard work
-gives them the opportunity to gain some status with their peers, and get back at society that denied them status
evaluate cohens work
-helps explain WC delinquency as a group response rather than focusing on individuals
-assumes young WC accept mainstream goals
-Miller argues its false to suggest WC reject mainstream values, as the lower class has always had its own subculture
-Matza - studied delinquency, found most young delinquents weren’t committed to delinquent values, just drifted in and out of occasional delinquency
what was Cloward and Ohlin’s work?
-argued Cohen’s theory doesn’t allow for the diversity of responses among WC youth who find means for achievement blocked
-illegitimate opportunity subcultures
-suggest three types of delinquent subculture created from the circumstances WC youth face
what are the three types of delinquent subculture proposed by Cloward and Ohlin?
-criminal subcultures
-conflict subcultures
-retreatist subcultures
what are criminal subcultures?
-utilitarian (useful) acts eg theft
-provide learning opportunities for young criminals
-develop in stable WC areas
-adult criminals exercise control over young to prevent non-utilitarian crimes that attract police attention
what are conflict sub-cultures?
-socially disorganized areas with high rate of population turnover and lack of social cohesion
-characterised by violence, gang warfare, mugging etc
-approved and criminal means of achieving goals are limited, young people express frustration through violence
-possible explanation for gang culture
what are retreatist sub-cultures?
-lower-class youth who are ‘double failures’ (failed in both mainstream and criminal society)
-retreat into drug addiction and alcoholism paid for with petty theft/drug dealing etc
evaluate Cloward and Ohlin’s ideas
-research is helpful as it explains why WC delinquency can take different forms in different circumstances
-exaggerate the differences between the different types of subculture as there are overlaps, eg goods stolen in retreatist being disposed of in stable areas with a market for stolen goods
what did Miller contribute?
the independent subculture and the focal concerns of WC life
what are focal concerns according to Miller?
-emphasis on toughness and masculinity
-smartness
-autonomy and freedom
-trouble
-search for excitement and thrills
how do focal concerns lead to deliquency?
-the values become exaggerated in searching for peer group status, eg being the toughest, leading to delinquency
what are criticisms of functionalist-based explanations of crime and deviance?
-generally assume there’s some initial value consensus that people deviate from. taylor et al 1973 - its wrong to assume this as not everyone is committed to mainstream goals
-only explain WC delinquency
-rely on the patterns of crime in crime stats, which are biased + unrepresentative
-delinquent subculture imply WC youth are socialised into values of delinquency, which would make delinquency widespread, which it isn’t (Matza)
-Matza criticises that they make delinquents out to be different from ‘normal’ people; when caught most try to justify as temporary lapses, which he called techniques of neutralization, showing a commitment to mainstream values
