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subcultural strain theories - Coggle Diagram
subcultural strain theories
subcultural strain theories see deviance as the product of a delinquent subculture which has different values to mainstream society
delinquent subcultures provide opportunity to achieve high status and success via alternative means
Albert Cohen
members of the working class cannot achieve goals by legitimate means
criticises merton for focusing on individual deviance as opposed to deviance in gangs.
working class boys fail to achieve success and status in mainstream society, due to failure within education system
they suffer status frustration
turn mainstream society values upside down and place his status on deviant behaviour.
members of these subcultures now have opportunity to gain high status among their peers by becoming involved in deviant activities- ILLEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY STRUCTURE
EVALUATION
offers explanation fro deviance that does not have any material motives, for example vandalism, and truancy
Cloward and Ohlin; three subcultures
criminal- provide youths with an apprenticeship fro a career in utilitarian crime. arise only in neighbourhoods with a longstanding and stable criminal culture- allows the young yp associate with adult criminals, who can select those with the right aptitudes and abilities and provide them with training for a criminal career
conflict- high population turnover- results in high levels of social disorganisation, prevents a stable professional criminal network developing, absence means only illegitimate opportunities available are within gangs, violence provides a release for young mens frustration at their blocked opoortunities
retreatist- those who fail at both legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures- many turn to a retreats subculture based on illegal drug use.
ignores middle class crime
Miller
argues that the lower class has its own subcultures that is separated from mainsream culture, dsictincive working class culture includes goals which can lead to deviance.
6 focal concerns
excitement, smartness, trouble, fatalism, toughness, independence
messier & rosenfield- institutional anomie theory- American dream culture encourages an environment which people adopt an anything goes mentality in pursuit of wealth;th, such societies high rates of crime are inevitable.