Week 5: Subcultural Theory Flashcards
Why did subcultural theory develop?
Merton’s strain theory was criticized for not being able to explain non-material crime, so subcultural theory was developed to explain such crime in terms of subcultures
What is culture?
the source of shared knowledge, (ways of thinking, acting, and material objects), which facilitates successful social interaction
What is a sub-culture?
a culture shared by a smaller group within the wider culture, some similarities to the dominant culture but differences in terms of values, norms, and language
What is subcultural theory?
assumes that those who deviate hold different values to mainstream society, crime and deviance are a reaction by a group who rejects the majority view or feels excluded, it’s still used today to inform gang prevention
How do subcultures relate to strains?
subcultures evolve to provide people with ways of dealing with strain
Albert Cohen- Delinquent Boys: Culture of the Gang (1955)
focused on working class boys, highlighted how social structures and cultural expectations contribute to the development of delinquent subcultures among marginalized youth, providing a framework for understanding gang behavior as a response to social inequality and frustration, the adjustment to this particular strain
Cloward and Ohlin- Delinquency and Opportunity: A Theory of Delinquent Gangs (1960)
explains that the likelihood of delinquent behavior among youth depends on the availability of opportunities, both legal and illegal. Different environments give rise to different types of gang subcultures based on the types of opportunities available, 3 types of gang subcultures
What are Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 types of gang subcultures?
criminal, conflict, and retreatist
How do criminal subcultures develop?
develop in stable neighborhoods where there are established and organized criminal networks, focus is on economic gain through crime, the subculture values the acquisition of wealth and material success through illegal means
How do conflict subcultures develop?
these subcultures emerge is disorganized, unstable neighborhoods where there is little to no criminal activity, the focus is on achieving status through violent conflict, these gangs often engage in territorial battles
How do retreatist subcultures develop?
these subcultures are found among individuals who have failed to achieve success through both legitimate means and illegitimate means, the focus is on escaping reality and the pressures of society through substance abuse
Skyes and Matza- Subterranean Values and Neutralization Theory (1964)
people drift between conformity and deviance throughout their life, criminal subcultures are formed through shared subterranean values, people use neutralization to protect self-image, neutralization techniques make drift possible
What are techniques of neutralization?
denial of responsibility, injury, victims
