Subcultural views on crime:
Intro:
There are three forms of subcultural theory: Functionalist,
Interactionism and Marxism
All suggest that young people develop subcultures with norms and
values that at times from differ from those of mainstream society
Subcultural strain theories see deviance as the product of a
delinquent subculture with different values from those of
mainstream society
They see subcultures as providing an alternative opportunity
structure for those who are denied the chance to achieve by
legitimate means - mainly the working-class
Examples of subcultures are the Mods and Rockers, high school
cliques and hippies
Point 1: Functionalist view on subcultures
AO2:
Functionalist theories say that when young people cannot achieve
status for themselves, they form subcultures with alternative values
from mainstream society
Cohen criticised Merton from within the functionalist tradition. He
looked at working-class delinquent boys and argued that deviance is
not individual, but collective
His criticisms of Merton were specifically that: working-class males
are particularly linked to crime and gang culture, much
delinquent/criminal behaviour is not about acquiring goods or
wealth, but is destructive, including self-destructive, and Merton’s
analysis is “monocultural
Cohen developed an analysis of the culture of the delinquent boys
as forming cultural values that are a response to dominant culture
Working class boys are judged by middle class standards in schools
and thus cannot compete. They experience status frustration
because they cannot succeed
Instead, they develop subcultures with values that are hostile to
middle-class values and reject the system that has rejected them.
Vandalism, crime and truancy give them status within the
subculture
Cloward and Ohlin suggest the varied social circumstances in which
working class youth live give rise to three types of delinquent
subcultures: criminal, conflict and Retreatist
Criminal: characterised by utilitarian (useful) crimes, such as theft
Conflict: emerge in socially disorganised areas where there is a high
rate of population turnover and a consequent lack of social cohesion
Retreatist: emerge among those lower-class youth who are “double
failures”
AO3:
Miller explains crime and deviance in terms of distinctive working-
class subcultures
Intro:
There are three forms of subcultural theory: Functionalist,
Interactionism and Marxism
All suggest that young people develop subcultures with norms and
values that at times from differ from those of mainstream society
Subcultural strain theories see deviance as the product of a
delinquent subculture with different values from those of
mainstream society
They see subcultures as providing an alternative opportunity
structure for those who are denied the chance to achieve by
legitimate means - mainly the working-class
Examples of subcultures are the Mods and Rockers, high school
cliques and hippies
Point 1: Functionalist view on subcultures
AO2:
Functionalist theories say that when young people cannot achieve
status for themselves, they form subcultures with alternative values
from mainstream society
Cohen criticised Merton from within the functionalist tradition. He
looked at working-class delinquent boys and argued that deviance is
not individual, but collective
His criticisms of Merton were specifically that: working-class males
are particularly linked to crime and gang culture, much
delinquent/criminal behaviour is not about acquiring goods or
wealth, but is destructive, including self-destructive, and Merton’s
analysis is “monocultural
Cohen developed an analysis of the culture of the delinquent boys
as forming cultural values that are a response to dominant culture
Working class boys are judged by middle class standards in schools
and thus cannot compete. They experience status frustration
because they cannot succeed
Instead, they develop subcultures with values that are hostile to
middle-class values and reject the system that has rejected them.
Vandalism, crime and truancy give them status within the
subculture
Cloward and Ohlin suggest the varied social circumstances in which
working class youth live give rise to three types of delinquent
subcultures: criminal, conflict and Retreatist
Criminal: characterised by utilitarian (useful) crimes, such as theft
Conflict: emerge in socially disorganised areas where there is a high
rate of population turnover and a consequent lack of social cohesion
Retreatist: emerge among those lower-class youth who are “double
failures”
AO3:
Miller explains crime and deviance in terms of distinctive working-
class subcultures
