Mertons strain theory Subcultural strain theory
TOPIC 1 - ppl engage in deviant behaviour when they
are unable to achieve socially approved
- Cohen, Status frustration. W/C boys face this as
they fail to succeed in M/C systems eg. School
goals - As a result of this they form delinquent sub
- Strain causes frustration then pressure to be cultures to go against M/C habitus
Functionalism deviant in order to succeed - They turn to alt status W/C boys try to succeed
- Durkheim, crime is inevitable, its needed to within subcultures by trying to rise in the hierarchy
prevent anomie in which they have more chances in
- Society is based on value consensus and Adaptions to strain
social solidarity
- Need social control 1. Conformity, individuals see they have to
- Eg. Police work hard to get their dream Cloward & Ohlin
2. Ritualism, give up on goals and get stuck in
3 types of subcultures :
dead end jobs
- Criminal subcultures
3. Innovation, see the need for money success
+VE functions of crime so use illegitimate means
Provide apprenticeships for utilitarian crimes,
exists in areas with stable criminal cultures with
1. Boundary maintenance : 4. Retreatism, reject legitimate and illegitimate
hierarchy of criminals
Crime creates a reaction from society, unite means and become drop outs
- Con ict subcultures
against the criminal, reinforce shared rules of 5. Rebellion, rebel against current means to
Exist in areas go high population turnover,
society get new ways of
social disorganisation and only loosely
2. Adaptation and change : organised gangs as only illegitimate means are
Durkheim, says all change occurs and starts - so W/C and ethnic minorities are more likely
available
due to an act of de ance people w/ new ideas to commit crimes because of their positions in
- retreatist subculture
must ignore some social norms and control eg. society
- Merton explains patterns in of cial stats, Formed form ppl who fail both in legitimate and
Gay right activists illegitimate means and turn to illegal drug use
most crime is property crime as American
So argues some crime is necessary, too much culture values material wealth
destroys social bonds, too little prevents change
Davis Alternative status hierarchy
Eval - Cohen the delinquent subculture inverts the
Prostitution lets men release sexual frustration
w/o threatening nuclear family - Merton takes of cial stats at face value when values of mainstream society.
in reality they are unrealistic - This subculture praise what society condemns
Eval
Ignores women who were illegal sex traf cked - Marxists argue that it ignored the power of
Eval the ruling class to mask and enforce laws in
Only focus on +VE and ignore serious aspects ways the criminalise the poor not the rich.
such as rape or murder. Crime does not always - Only apply to utilitarianism crime
promote social solidarity
fl fi fi fi fi
TOPIC 1 - ppl engage in deviant behaviour when they
are unable to achieve socially approved
- Cohen, Status frustration. W/C boys face this as
they fail to succeed in M/C systems eg. School
goals - As a result of this they form delinquent sub
- Strain causes frustration then pressure to be cultures to go against M/C habitus
Functionalism deviant in order to succeed - They turn to alt status W/C boys try to succeed
- Durkheim, crime is inevitable, its needed to within subcultures by trying to rise in the hierarchy
prevent anomie in which they have more chances in
- Society is based on value consensus and Adaptions to strain
social solidarity
- Need social control 1. Conformity, individuals see they have to
- Eg. Police work hard to get their dream Cloward & Ohlin
2. Ritualism, give up on goals and get stuck in
3 types of subcultures :
dead end jobs
- Criminal subcultures
3. Innovation, see the need for money success
+VE functions of crime so use illegitimate means
Provide apprenticeships for utilitarian crimes,
exists in areas with stable criminal cultures with
1. Boundary maintenance : 4. Retreatism, reject legitimate and illegitimate
hierarchy of criminals
Crime creates a reaction from society, unite means and become drop outs
- Con ict subcultures
against the criminal, reinforce shared rules of 5. Rebellion, rebel against current means to
Exist in areas go high population turnover,
society get new ways of
social disorganisation and only loosely
2. Adaptation and change : organised gangs as only illegitimate means are
Durkheim, says all change occurs and starts - so W/C and ethnic minorities are more likely
available
due to an act of de ance people w/ new ideas to commit crimes because of their positions in
- retreatist subculture
must ignore some social norms and control eg. society
- Merton explains patterns in of cial stats, Formed form ppl who fail both in legitimate and
Gay right activists illegitimate means and turn to illegal drug use
most crime is property crime as American
So argues some crime is necessary, too much culture values material wealth
destroys social bonds, too little prevents change
Davis Alternative status hierarchy
Eval - Cohen the delinquent subculture inverts the
Prostitution lets men release sexual frustration
w/o threatening nuclear family - Merton takes of cial stats at face value when values of mainstream society.
in reality they are unrealistic - This subculture praise what society condemns
Eval
Ignores women who were illegal sex traf cked - Marxists argue that it ignored the power of
Eval the ruling class to mask and enforce laws in
Only focus on +VE and ignore serious aspects ways the criminalise the poor not the rich.
such as rape or murder. Crime does not always - Only apply to utilitarianism crime
promote social solidarity
fl fi fi fi fi
