Subcultural Theories In Crime And Deviance Flashcards
All key terms in subcultural theories in crime and deviance
Subculture/ Legitimate Opportunity Structure/ llegitimate Opportunity Structure/ Status
Frustration/Criminal, Conflict, Retreatist Subcultures/ Underclass/ Subterranean Values/
Techniques of Neutralization
All key theorists in subcultural theorists in crime and deviance
Albert Cohen, Merton, cloward and ohlin, miller, matza
Basis of subcultural theory in crime and deviance
SUBCULTURAL theories of deviance explain deviance in terms Or one
Subculture of a particular social group (rather than just the individual).
Certain groups develop norms and values that are different from those
held by other members of society. Subcultural theory usually focuses
on why working class people commit crime - they focus on juvenile
delinquency - which is often malicious and not linked to material or
financial goals. They often seek to explain why juvenile delinquency
has a collective character.
Albert cohen
Albert Cohen (1955) The delinquent subculture:
Cohen’s work updated Merton’s position and combined both structural and subcultural theories
of deviance. He argues that individuals want status, respect and to feel valued. if this was not
achieved it led to STATUS FRUSTRATION.
what is the diagram of status frustration
lower working class boys want success but cannot achieve their goals because cultural deprivation leads to educational failure and dead end jobs.
they suffer from status frustration and turn to criminal paths to achieve success
an alternative set of norms and values is adopted - a delinquent subculture by valuing illegal activities
what is a criticism of of cohen’s theory
there is no discussion of females, or ethnicity
Box (1981)
Box argues that Cohens theory only applies to a minority of delinquents. The rest accept mainstream standards of success but resent being seen as failures and turn against those who they feel look down on them.
Cloward and Ohlin
Illegitimate opportunity structure.
Cloward and Ohlin accept Merton’s explanation of deviance in terms of the legitimate opportunity structure, but they argue that he failed to consider the illegitimate opportunity structure.
what is the illegitimate opportunity structure
some sub-cultures thought an illegal career was avilable and this meant they could achieve societal goals
what are the three responses within the illegitimate opportunity structure
criminal subcultures: They are characterised by utilitarian crimes such as theft . Stable working class environment provides career path for aspiring young criminals alternative to the legit job market
Conflict sub cultures: These are usually in socially disorganised areas with high population turnover and lack of social cohesion. They engage in violence and gang warfare status is achieved through violent acts.
retreatist subcultures: Emerge amongst the lower classes, these are double failures, they have failed to achieve the mainstream society and illegitimate structures. The response is often drugs and alcohol abuse, paid for by theft and prostitution.
how can illegitimate opportunity structure be compared to mertons modes of adaptation
criminal subcultures = innovation
conflict subcultures = rebellion
retreatist subcultures = retreatism
Criticisms of cloward and ohlin
A03: Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin:
1) Taylor, Walton and Young (1973) criticize Merton, Cloward and Ohlin for assuming that
everybody is committed fo the success goal of achieving wealth. They point out the
existence of other possible goals and note that certain groups, such as ‘hippies, make a
conscious choice fo reject conventional goals.
2) South (1997) believes that the three subculiures are too distinct and that one subculture
often emerg6s into another. For example many drug addicts in retreatist SUbCUtures ere
also money making drug dealers. aso goods stolen fo buy drugs for retreatists may be sold
within criminal subcultures.
Miller
Miller (1962) Lower class subculture:
miller believed that the lower classes had their own distinctive values which were passed on from generation to generation and which actively encouraged lower-class men to break the law.
He identified 6 focal concerns’ of the “lower class’, which included:
1) Smartness - A person should be both witty and look good.
2) Trouble - “| don’t go looking for it BUT…
3 Excitement - lt is important to search out thrills
4) Toughness Being physically stronger than others is good and it is important to demonstrate this.
5) Autonomy - It is important not be pushed around by others.
6) Fate - individuals have little chance to overcome the wider fate that awaits them.
Miller believed that delinquency was the result of an exaggerated conformity to these ‘focal Concerns’.
What studies apply to subcultures in crime and deviance in contemporary britain
- Willis- Learning to Labour
Studied group of boys called ‘the lads’
They believed themselves to be superior to teachers and other pupils
They had no interest in gaining academic qualifications
They did as little work as possible, and passed the time with bad behaviour
They were unhappy at being treated like children, and felt they belonged in the adult
world
They formed a counter-school subculture - this Was racist, sexist and valued working class
masculinity (toughness and aggression) - Parker- View from the Boys
Conducted research, in 1974, into delinquents in Liverpool. At the time, there was a trend
whereby Liverpool youths would regularly steal car radios and become involved in similar
behaviour. Parker was open about being a researcher and was keen to ask questions about the
relationship between gang members. Parker discovered that the boys in his study stole consumer
products in order to feel part of the community from whom they were stealing - Venkatesh - Gang Leader for a Day
His research is regarded as highly valuable for the insight it gave into gang culture in America and
the impact of a gang on an area, He originally entered the hoUsing projects with the aim of
conducting interviews with young, black men living in poverty. The gang was reluctant to talk to
at first and he was met with open hostility and threats of violence. Venkatesh observed the
behaviour of gang members at all levels in the Black Kings and found the structure of the gang to
be hierarchical and highly organised. Most foot soldiers in drug gangs made only $3.30 an hour
and JT made little more than a junior manager in.a shop
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What are Charles Murray’s view on under lass
Murray sees and argues that there is a rising underclass which is welfare dependant leading to welfare dependant and perverse incentives e.g. getting pregnant for housing and benefits. This leads to deviant family structures like lone parents and in turn, fail to socialise children. These children will then end up joining deviant subcultures due to this.
