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
-
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.
Taylor
Taylor (1997): Rejects Murray’s New Right views but accepts that an underclass does exist.
believes that young, unskilled working class males have been affected by increasing inequality
and declining job prospects. Underclass criminal activity is a result of material deprivation rather
than unacceptable culture and a lack of norms and values.
Is there a clear distinctive underclass?
Ye, talk about carers depending on benefits and benefits being worth more than an avergage job
Jack is a flid
Who argues benefits and crime aren’t linked
Tham (1998) Compared welfare policies and crime rates in Britain and Sweden. He found that in the 1980’s crime had increased much faster in Britain than Sweden despite Sweden having
more generous welfare state.
Who argues single parent families / deviant family structures aren’t linked to crime
Mooney (1998) Argues there is no link between SPF and criminality. SPF are more likely. to be
victims of crime.
THIS CAN CRITICISE CHARLES MURRAY
Taylor et al
Taylor et al (1973) criticise Merton, Cohen and Cloward and Ohlin for assuming that everyone s
Committed to achieving wealth and ignore other life goals.
David Matza
Davia Matza (1964) argues that delinquents are, to a considerable extent, committed to the same
Values as other members of society. Deviance becomes possible when ‘TECHNIQUES OF
NEUTRALIZATION’ are used which temporarily release them from the hold society has over them.
what are all the techniques of neutralisation described
DENIAL OF RESPONSIBILITY - The offender denies it was their fault and blames e.g. drugs or alchohol
DENIAL OF VICTIM - the offender claims the victim was in the wrong, e.g. in a rape case someone may claim “she was dressed provocatively and led me on”
DENIAL OF INJURY - The offender claims that the victim was not really hurt or harmed by the crime. Often used to justify theft from a company as opposed to stealing from individuals
CONDEMNATION OF THE CONDEMNERS - the defendant feels a sense of unfairness of being picked on for something others have done and not been punished from e.g. young black males persecuted for weed whilst white collar cocaine consumption is not noticed ( link to chambliss and selective law enforcement).
APPEAL TO HIGHER LOYALTIES - the offender claims that the rule or law had to be ignored because more imoportant issues were at stake. e.g. the defendant was standing up for :family, community, race.
matza argues that the use of techniques of neutralisation throws serious doubt on the idea of deviant subcultures.
what do techniques of neutralisatin show us about our commitment to mainstream values
even delinquents have mainstream values. But are just temporarily released form them by techniques of neutralisation. They had to go back to mainstream values (Link to mccabe and martin disinhibition effect)
Subterranean values
Subterranean Values:
Once potential delinquents have freed themselves from social constraints, they are in a state of DRIFT and may go on to commit deviant acts. Matza explains the attraction of deviance in terms of SUBTERRANEAN VALUES. These values encourage enjoying yourself, acting.on the spur of the moment, being aggressive and seeking excitement. Respectable members of society only express these Values at carefully controlled moments, but delinquents express them at inappropriate times - for example, seeking excitement at school or being aggressive while at work.
how is cohen both useful and not useful
useful: shows how lower class boys mey experience cultural depravation which can then lead to status frustration, therefore subcultures
not useful: doesn’t include females, even though there is a rising “ladette” culture
how is Cloward and Ohlin both useful and not useful
useful: cloward and ohlin believe in the illegitimate opportunity structure and elaborate further the difference of criminal, conflict, and retreatist
not useful: the three subcultures all blend into eachother and overlap
how is miller both useful and not useful
useful: miller identifies “focal concerns” with six names : excitement, trouble, toughness, autonomy, fate, smartness
not useful: these concerns are not bound to the working class
how is murray both useful and not useful
useful: Murray highlighted how welfare dependancy leads to perverse incentives, which leads to inadequate socialisation, and therefore criminal subcultures
not useful: the underclass doesnt exist, its just that alot of people arent able to find jobs but would like them, they are forced into a state of welfare dependancy
