Subcultural theories - crime and deviance

What do subculuralist’s focus on?

The idea that certain groups in society develop values and norms that differ from mainstream society often as a response to strain or blocked opportunities.

Who created status frustration?

Albert Cohen

What’s the key idea of status frustration?

Deviance arises when individuals (especially working-class boys) are unable to achieve mainstream success goals.

What causes status frustration?

They experience frustration due to failure in achieving societal expectations, as a result they reject mainstream values and form delinquent subcultures that invest societal norms.

What’s an example of status frustration?

A gang that values toughness and aggression because members can’t achieve academic success.

What did cloward and blind create?

The illegitimate opportunity structure (1960)

What’s the key idea of illegitimate opportunity structures?

Type of deviant or criminals subculture that forms depends on access to illegitimate opportunities in an area

What are the three subcultures that Cloward and Ohlin created?

1. Criminal subculture - in areas with established criminal network

2. Conflict subculture - in areas with high social disorganisation violence and going crime dominate

3. Retreatist subculture - who fall in both legitimate and illegitimate means, leading to drugs and petty crimes

What is the Miller and focal concerns?

Deviance arises from the distinct values of working-class culture, not just from strain

What is the idea of focal concerns?

Woking-class means are socialised into value like toughness, excitement, and trouble which can lead to deviance

What are the strengths of subcultural theories?

• Explain group deviance and the formation of youth gangs

• Highlights the role of social inequality and blocked opportunities

• Useful in understanding different forms of deviance such as vandalism, violence and drug use.

What are the disadvantages of subcultural theories?

• Overemphasises on working - class deviance, ignores middle class crimes like fraud

• Ignores individual motivations and choice

• Deterministic - assumes people from disadvantaged backgrounds automatically turn to deviance

• Outdated