Subcultures Of Deliquency And The Labelling Theory

Question 1

Chicago school of criminology

Answer 1

• introduced new sociological methods of research: statistical analysis, life-history documents, field studies, case studies, interviews, ethnography (description of customs and cultures), participant observation
  → hands-on projects
  → ecological analysis (the city is a laboratory)
• main research problem: the impact of industrial and commercial expansion on the metabolism of local communities

Question 2

Chicago school of criminology—Shaw and McKay

Answer 2

Social disorganization theory
→ method: statistical analysis of crime rates
- believed that society/social structures causes criminality; criticized positivism
- studied the link between urban growth and juvenile delinquency
→ social, economic, and cultural environment

zones of transition vs the suburbs
- zones of transition: areas for industry and commerce (consisted of industrial workers, the poor, and immigrants)
→ disorganization: ethnic heterogeneity, conflicting moral values, lack opportunities/skills to obtain a luxury lifestyle, youth unsupervised, tradition of delinquency
- the suburbs: residential neighborhoods with upper and middle class residents
→ conventional values: homogenous population, sense of community, valued welfare of children/formal education/ leisure-time activities, law-abiding behaviour

Conclusion: juvenile delinquency tends to increase with social disorganization (zones of transition) and decline in areas dominated by conventional social strictures (suburbs); delinquency is correlated to sociodemographic characteristics and the social problems of each community

Question 3

Delinquent subcultures—Cohen

Answer 3

• Studied the conflict between dominant values and subcultures (deviant values)
• believed that sociology has failed to study the causes of delinquency; criticized anomie theory
• delinquent subcultures as an adjustment mechanism
  → reaction formation as a result of the rejection of middle-class values and being rejected by institutions (school)
• female delinquency: women are less likely to misbehave; socialized to conform to their gender roles (delinquency harms their social status)
• middle-class delinquency: gender anxiety; boys raised by their mothers feel the need to affirm their masculinity and reject conduct norms that have a feminine connotation (good and respectable behaviour, empathy)

Question 4

Delinquent subcultures—Miller

Answer 4

• Criticized Cohen’s ideas
  → rather than gang members being social failures, they are capable people attempting to achieve success through illicit means because the gang has something positive to offer
• working-class values: prove toughness, smartness (street smart), thrill, excitement, adventure, overcome obstacles, autonomy
• Believed female-headed households were the factor that pushed boys into delinquency
  → lack of male role model causes an identity crisis that can be solved by joining a gang (offers a sense of belonging and opportunity to gain social status)

Question 5

Delinquency and drift

Answer 5

• Crime should be studied in relation to criminal law and agencies that define certain actions as infraction
• criminals are not fundamentally different than non-criminals (often share values)
• delinquents have two mindframes:
  → favourable towards delinquency and material gains
  → importance of conventional values and culture
• drift: delinquent is not fully committed to either culture *
• two situations:
  → apprehension: when delinquents are exposed they express regret; does not entirely reject conventional values
  → company: delinquents in company with their peers do not commit entirely to the delinquent values; use toxic masculinity to hide insecurities
• Techniques that encourage delinquents more:
  → neutralization: excuses to do the delinquent act (shield from guilt)
  → preparation: development of the skills required for delinquency
  → desperation: feeling lack of control (response to anxiety about masculinity and inevitable events)

Question 6

The labelling perspective/theory

Answer 6

• believed that social reality and its values and meanings are not fixed; they are constructed through social interaction (social construction)
  → crime and deviance are defined by society (society constructs the meaning of deviance through labelling)
  → construction is unequal (some people have more power than others)
• societal reaction: designation of certain acts as deviant or criminal; deviance is not the behavour or act itself but rather the application of rules by others to an offender (response to behaviour)
• primary deviance: “original” deviant behaviour caused by multiple factors
• secondary deviance: how society reacts to primary deviance (imposition of labels)