topic 4 - theoretical explanations of deviant subcultures

Question 1

background info 2

Answer 1

1. functionalists such as merton created ‘strain theory’ to explain why individuals committed crime
2. a sub-cultural branch functionalists criticised merton for ignoring why ppl committed non-utilitarian crime or group deviance

Question 2

what are subcultural theories

Answer 2

consensus approaches

Question 3

what 2 principles are consensus approaches based on

Answer 3

1. all individuals are socialised to want to achieve the success valued within mainstream culture. however, some ppl cant achieve this due to their social position, so they form subcultures to gain status in other ways
2. deviance is the result of individuals conforming to the norms and values of a social group to which they belong, if you belong to a social group whose norms differ from those of main society then you will be deviant

Question 4

functionalism, cohen 5

Answer 4

1. lower-working-class boys want to achieve the success valued by mainstream culture
2. due to educational failure, they have little chance of achieving these goals. results in status frustration
3. boys are at the bottom of the social structure and have little chance of gaining higher status in society
4. reject norms and values of mainstream society and turn to norms and values of delinquent subculture
5. in this subculture the boys can achieve success, high value placed upon criminal acts like stealing and vandalism which are condemned by mainstream society

Question 5

functionalist, cloward and ohlin 3

Answer 5

1. criminal subcultures= emerge in areas where there is alot of organised adult crime, criminal role models for young ppl. in these subcultures the young ppl can climb up the professional criminal ladder by committing more crimes. utilitarian crimes
2. conflict subcultures= emerge in areas where there’s little organised adult crime, instead of learning how to commit serious monetary crimes the young ppl learn on gaining respect through gang violence
3. retreatist subcultures= for young ppl who have even failed in the criminal subcultures, these ppl are ‘double failures’. retreat to drugs and alcohol abuse to deal with the fact that they have been rejected by other subcultures

Question 6

functionalism, nightingale 3

Answer 6

1. studied young black males in the USA and applied functionalist views to their experiences in the 90s
2. found that they subscribed to the goals of monetary success and materialism, found their route to these goals blocked by racism and poverty
3. their collective experiences led them to form subcultures for a sense of pride and status, turned to crime as an alternative route to material success

Question 7

functionalism evaluation, matza 2

Answer 7

1. subcultural theories over predict delinquency. most working class young ppl experience status frustration but dont join anti-social or criminal gangs
2. the few that do get involved in gangs do so temporarily in that they ‘drift’ in and out of delinquency before they grow out of it by adulthood

Question 8

functionalism evaluation, mcrobbie 2

Answer 8

1. functionalist research analysis is very malestream
2. fail to explain how females participate

Question 9

functionalism evaluation, eisenstadt 2

Answer 9

1. deviance is functional for society
2. doesnt result in long term criminal subcultures forming, as children only deviate whilst acting out frustrations during youth

Question 10

new right, sewell