subcultural theories of crime

Cohens subcultural theory

• failed in school

• resulting in low status and status frustration

• create subcultures which inverted mainstream society values

What are limitations of Cohen’s subcultural theory?

• they don’t purposely invert mainstream values

• post-modernists argue that it is because of boredom or seeking a ‘buzz’

Cloward and Ohlin - illegitimate opportunity structure

• lack of access to legitimate opportunity structures

• Access to illegitimate opportunity structures

• Diff types of access lead to different types of subculture

What are the three types of access that lead to different types of subculture

• Criminal - criminal hierarchy established

• Conflict - violence as a means of respect from peers

• Retreatist - ‘double failures’, neither of above, drugs and alcohol

Limitations of Cloward and Ohlin?

• they only talk about wc male crime

• Criminal gangs would have elements of two or more of these subcultures