SUBCULTURAL THEORIES

Question 1

intro of albert cohen

Answer 1

• updated mertons position
• combined structural and subcultural theories of deviance

Question 2

why does albert cohen criticise merton

Answer 2

1. cohen argues that deviance is a collective response rather than individual
2. also believed merton ignored non utilitarian crime

Question 3

how does albert cohen present the idea of status frustration

Answer 3

• lower wc boys want to suceed but cant achieve goals because cultural deprivation leads to eduactional failure and dead end jobs
• therefore suffer status frustration so turn to crime to achieve success
• alternative norms and values are then adopted - alternative statue hierarchy which reverse mainstream culture by valuing activities such a stealing
• allows boys to achieve status from peers
  EXAMPLE: paul willis’ lads

Question 4

what is an A03 point for albert cohens idea of status frustration

Answer 4

like merton he assumes wc boys start off sharing mc boys success goals - only reject when fail. Ignores that they may never shared these - not seeing themselves as failures

but he does offer an explanation for non utilitarian crime

Question 6

What do cloward and ohlin think of Merton view

Answer 6

Accept: his explanation of deviance
BUT
He’s failed to consider the illegitimate opportunity structure

Question 7

What is the definition of illegitimate opportunity structure

Answer 7

The opportunity to succeed by illegitimate means varies

Question 8

What is cloward and ohlins ideas of deviance

Answer 8

Working class youths are denied legitimate opportunities to achieve money success

Question 9

What is an example of the illegitimate opportunity structure

Answer 9

In one area there may be a thriving subculture so more opportunity to become a criminal unlike where it doesn’t exist

Question 10

What are the three types of subcultures cloward and ohlin describe

Answer 10

1. Criminal subculture
2. Conflict subculture
3. Retreatist subculture

Question 11

What do cloward and ohlin describe a criminal subculture to be

Answer 11

• provide youths with an apprenticeship for a career in utilitarian crime
• only in neighbourhoods with long standing criminal culture and hierarchy of adult crime
• people can be trained and climb the hierarchy

Question 12

What do cloward and ohlin describe a conflict subculture to be

Answer 12

• in areas with high population turnover meaning there is social disorganisation preventing a stable criminal network meaning only illegitimate opportunities are available
• violence is a release for men’s frustration over their blocked opportunities

Question 13

What do cloward and ohlin define a retreatist subculture to be

Answer 13

-not everyone who aspires to be gang leaders succeed
- c+o describe these as double failures and turn to retreatist subcultures based on illegal drug user

Question 14

What is an A03 point for cloward and ohlin

Answer 14

South: c+o don’t recognise that the 3 subcultures could over lap and may not be distinct
Found that the drug trade has a mix of disorganised professional mafia criminal subcultures
Some retreatist drug users make a living of organise crime

Question 15

What idea does miller put forward for crime and deviance

Answer 15

• lower claws have own set of values passed on from generation to generation encouraging lower class to offend
• wc subculture doesn’t value success as members aren’t frustrated by failure

Question 16

What does miller identify

Answer 16

Focal concerns of the lower class including:
1. Toughness: respect for courage
2. Smartness: outsmart those seen to be clever eg police

Question 17

What does miller say delinquency is a result off

Answer 17

An exaggerated conformity to focal concerns and evidence of wc attempting to achieve their own goals rather than mainstream ones

Question 18

What’s an A03 point of miller

Answer 18

DAVID MATZA: reject millers picture of an isolated lower class - values bear no relation to mainstream culture
BUT:
GILL: study of wc area: residents don’t see unoccupied houses as wrong

Question 19

What does Charles Murray say the cause of crime and deviance is

Answer 19

• underclass: share different values and are responsible for a lot of crime as socialise children into different norms and values

Question 20

What does Charles Murray blame for crime

Answer 20

• welfare benefits as it means people can now be single parents as young men reject that it’s important to hold down a job
• believes a dependency culture has developed as a result of perverse incentives

Question 21

What’s a quote from Charles Murray 2017

Answer 21

‘There has always been a small underclass but now you have got a major problem’

Question 22

What’s an A03 point for Charles Murray

Answer 22

TAYLOR: reject NR view but accepts that underclass exists but underclass activity is a result of material deprivation rather than deviant set of cultural values eg stealing

Question 23

What does David matza say about deviants

Answer 23

That to a considerable extent they hold the same values as wider society

Question 24

When does David matza say deviance occurs

Answer 24

It occurs when techniques of neutralisation are used which temporarily release them from the hold society has. These include
1. Denial of responsibility for a deviant act blaming parents or area they live in
2. Denial that the act was basically wrong - ‘getting justice’
Argues these techniques throws serious doubt on the idea of subculture

Question 25

What view does David matza reject

Answer 25

That there is a group who hold a set of subterranean values which are anti social tendencies whin ch we all keep hidden most of the time
Eg at office party or on holiday or in Ibiza