Subcultural theory and functionalism

What do all subcultural theories agree on?

That working-class boys form criminal or deviant subcultures.

What is Merton’s Strain Theory?

The idea that there is a strain between society’s goals and the legitimate means of achieving them, leading some to turn to crime.

What did Merton call the strain between goals and means?

Anomie.

According to Merton, who experiences anomie most strongly?

The working class, because they have fewer legitimate opportunities for success.

What did Cloward and Ohlin propose?

The Illegitimate Opportunity Structure — people blocked from legal success seek an illegal career path.

What does the Illegitimate Opportunity Structure explain?

Why some groups develop organised patterns of deviant or criminal behaviour.

What did Albert Cohen’s Status Frustration theory argue?

Working-class boys turn to deviance to gain status when they can’t achieve it through education.

How do working-class boys gain status according to Cohen?

By inverting mainstream values and gaining respect within deviant peer groups.

What are Miller’s six focal concerns?

Smartness, trouble, excitement, toughness, autonomy, and fate.

What did Miller argue about working-class boys?

They develop values that prioritise excitement and toughness, leading to deviant behaviour.

What did the Chicago School argue about crime?

That areas with high population turnover (transitional zones) experience higher rates of delinquency.

Why do areas of transition have high delinquency according to the Chicago School?

Because social disorganisation weakens community bonds and informal control.

What did Matza mean by subterranean values?

That everyone shares deviant tendencies, but most people control them most of the time.

How did Matza criticise subcultural theory?

He argued that people drift in and out of deviance rather than belonging to fixed subcultures.

What does Katz argue about crime?

That crime is committed for the thrill and excitement, not because of social rejection.

How does Lyng’s idea of edgework link to Katz?

Both suggest crime involves risk-taking and excitement as part of postmodern explanations of deviance.

What did Durkheim argue about crime?

That crime is inevitable and functional because it reinforces social norms and values.

How is crime functional for society according to Durkheim?

It promotes social cohesion and clarifies moral boundaries.

What did Hirschi argue about social bonds?

That strong social bonds (attachment, commitment, involvement, belief) prevent people from committing crime.

What did Davis (1961) mean when he said crime is a safety valve?

That minor crimes and deviance allow people to release tension without threatening social order.

What did Clinard (1974) mean when he said crime is a warning sign?

That crime indicates social problems that need to be addressed by society.