Subcultural theory

Subcultural theory

• Caused by WC subs when not accepted

• Subs encourage criminal actions as they have a shared feeling of not being successful.

Cohen

Criticises Merton:

1. Reaction of behaviour is not an individual response — crime is committed in groups, not by individuals.

2. Not all deviant behaviour is linked to success goals eg. vandalism, drugs taking etc.

Status frustration —> Crime and deviance is a reaction among WC males to failing to achieve educational success. WC experience frustration over lack of status than others. These groups develop their own set of values. This creates an alternative status hierarchy in which they can achieve having failed in the legitimate opportunity structure. Boys create their own illegitimate opportunity structure where they can win status from their peers. Explains non economic delinquency

Cloward + Ohlin

WC boys belong to 3 subcultures:

1. Criminal subs in gang membership — financial gain

2. Conflict sub — antisocial / aggressive behaviour

3. Retreatist sub — drugs + alcohol

Criminal subs

Neighbourhoods with long standing stable criminal culture with an established hierarchy of professional adult crime

Leads to utilitarian crime.

Conflict subs (no hierarchy)

High population creates high level of social disorganisations, only legitimate opportunities available.

Leads to non-utilitarian crime

Restreatist subs

Not all criminals succeed — double failure

Leads to non-utilitarian crime eg. drug use.

Cloward + Ohlin — Turf wars

Wars fought over different areas between different gangs. Leads to violence and can be the result of conflict subcultures eg. B19 + B6 postcode war. Creates different illegitimate opportunities.

EVALUATION: Subs not clearly divided — crossover between criminal + conflict.

Miller — WC focal concerns

Explains crime in terms of the existence of the distinctive lower class subculture, not a reaction to poverty. Believes the lower class possessed their own culture and traditions which are different from higher classes. The WC have specific focal concerns such as masculinity, resentment for authority, being tough, immediate gratification and a yearning for excitement and thrills. WC more likely to experience anomie, strain and frustration and turn to deviance.

Criticism of Miller — Bordua

Says that Miller seems to be saying that the involvement of lower class culture is s deep and exclusive that contacts with agents of MC dominated institutions like education. WC don’t have their own completely separate culture from MC as have lots of contact eg. media.

Matza — Drift (Criticises Miller)

They drift into deviant activities. They are spontaneous and impulsive. Says that deviants are no different from ‘normal’ people who respect the value consensus. Suggests that sometimes people drift out of the value consensus but will ultimately drift back in suggesting they agree with he value consensus deep down. Only temporary

Matza — Techniques of neutralisation

Suggests that delinquents justify their own crimes and exceptions to the rules — Know its wrong and goes against the value consensus. Young people use techniques of neutralisation to justify their actions and explain why they commit a crime. Eg.

• Shoplifting — can’t afford necessities

• Assault — Provoked / self defence

Key criticisms

• Postmodernists — Argue that the social causes of crime are undiscoverable, each time is just, each crime is just a one off event.

• Lyng — Young people like taking risks and engaging in ‘edgework’, going to the end of acceptable behaviour eg. joyriding

• Katz — individuals take pleasure and enjoyment from crime

Criticise all functionalists as say crime is not to do with social equality but for the thrill