Subcultural Theories Of Crime

Question 1

Albert Cohens view

Answer 1

Studied why young working class boys turned to crime.

Question 2

Why did young working class boys turn to crime?

Answer 2

Feeling of status frustration

Respect from gangs (delinquent subcultures) - committing non utilitarian crimes

Not relating to wider society values of education and jobs.

Question 3

Criticisms of A. Cohen

Answer 3

Assumes people that conform to societys values and being unable to leads to a reaction.

Are subcultures the main cause? - most young people drift in and out of deviant behaviours.

Assumes all young w/c boys will commit crime as a result. Other means: jobs, art, sport

Assumes all gangs are violent and commit crime.

Question 4

Coward and Ohlins view

Answer 4

There are a variety of gangs and how they form is a reaction to their environmental factors.

Question 5

The 3 variations of subcultures

Answer 5

Criminal, conflict and retreatist.

Question 6

Criminal subculture

Answer 6

Clear leadership and highly organised. Engages in criminal activity with financial rewards.

Question 7

Conflict subculture

Answer 7

Poorly structured and no clear ladership. Often involved in violent crimes and fighting over ‘turf’.

Question 8

Retreatist subculture

Answer 8

Arent criminal and violent. Loosely organised and the members simply ‘hang around’, do drugs or get drunk.