Cohen's Subcultural Theory

How does Cohen’s Subcultural Theory develop Merton’s Strain Theory?

Addresses questions about why groups commit crimes and non-utilitarian crimes

What is the key to subcultural theories?

Deviants conform to norms and values, they just happen to be different norms and values from the rest of society

What does Cohen argue about working-class boys?

Failed at school resulting in low status and status frustration

• resulted in the formation of subcultures

What did Cohen argue that working-class boys subcultures did?

Inverted the values of school

• things deemed deviant in mainstream society was praiseworthy and a way of gaining status in the subculture

What did WC boys in subcultures do to receive status from their peers? (Cohen)

Took part in truanting, answering teachers back, and destroying property through vandalism

Why did WC boys partake in crimes such as vandalism or fighting according to Cohen?

Explained by the subcultures

• inverted the values of mainstream society

• turned socially deviant acts into ones that are praiseworthy

• way of achieving status within the group

Cohen’s Subcultural Theory - Weaknesses

• Members of delinquent subcultures are unlikely to have a consciously thought that mainstream society would consider their acts unacceptable

• Doesn’t explain why delinquent subcultures were mostly working-class

Cohen’s Subcultural Theory - Weaknesses (Post-modernists)

Lyng & Katz

• individual is influenced by boredom or is seeking a “buzz”

Cohen’s Subcultural Theory - Weaknesses (Feminists)

Theory does not consider gender

• if frustration at low status causes deviants wouldn’t WC girls create subcultures too?

Cohen’s Subcultural Theory - Strengths

• considers reasons for non-utilitarian crimes

• considers why people commit group crimes