Crime and Deviance Functionalist strain and subcultural theories

Crime and Deviance Functionalist, strain and subcultural theories.

Recap �Brain storm a list of crimes; Any positive functions for society?

Subcultural theories Functionalist theory Strain theory �A. K Cohen �Cloward & Ohlin �Miller

Subcultural Strain Theory Subcultures provide an alternative structure for those who are denied the legitimate opportunities. Subcultural strain theories see deviance as the product of a delinquent subculture with different values to those of mainstream society Focus mainly on working class population.

Cohen (1955) �Cohen agrees with Merton that deviance is a lower class phenomenon but criticises Merton’s explanation on 2 grounds: 1. Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain thus ignoring that deviance is committed in or by groups, 2. Merton focuses on utilitarian crime committed for material gain, such as theft or fraud but largely ignores crimes such as assault and vandalism which might have more of an economic motive.

�The Education system “labels” those who do not achieve the cultural goals as failures. �Young people have a “looking glass self” - they internalise the feelings of inferiority and failure, “repressing” those feelings into their unconscious - leading to a “reaction formation”. �All people, particularly young people seek status in their own eyes and in the eyes of others, particularly significant others. �Denied status through the official status channels, Cohen argued they will established subcultures where they can achieve status through alternative status channels.

Cohen : Deviance and Class �Cohen believes that working class boys in particular face anomie within the middle class dominated school system. They suffer from cultural deprivation and lack the skills to achieve. �As a result of not being able to achieve status through legitimate means (education), the boys suffer with status frustration. Meaning they face a problem of adjustment to the low status they are given by mainstream society.

Middle class values Speak well Dress Smartly Know Classical Music Deferred gratification Know Shakespeare

�The delinquent gang can be one such alternative status channel. �The delinquent gang may now turn the values of the school and the education system on its head. What is good in the teachers’ eyes becomes bad in their eyes, and what is bad in the teachers’ eyes become good in their eyes. �This is a “reactive” subculture which overturns the dominant middle class values of the school and wider society. �Even though outwardly the gang rejects the norms and values of the dominant middle class culture, they have internalised it from birth.

Can you think of examples of cultural deprivation which can affect working class boys achievement in education ? Can you think of examples of what working class boys suffering from status frustration might do in order to enhance their lack of status?

�Repressed into the unconscious these feelings of inferiority and failure boil away. This leads to a “reaction formation”. � The repressed feelings of inferiority are expressed through peculiarly malicious and violent acts. �Violent and destructive acts that serve no rational purpose may be explained this way.

Criticisms of Cohen �No mention of females. �These individuals would need to be great sociologists to work out what middle class values are and invert them. �Cohen fails to prove that school really is the key place where success and failure are demonstrated.

Discussion Points �What are two key strengths of Cohen’s approach to Crime and Deviance? �What are two key weaknesses? �Can this theory help us to understand contemporary forms of crime and deviance such as “Happy Slapping”? �On a scale of 1 – 10 how do you rate this theory?

Read through the text �Cloward and Ohlin : three subcultures �Cohen �In pairs write 10 questions relating to theory you are allocated. At least 4 must use these words Describe, outline, explain. . . – you can decide the marks available but must include them next to the question �Swap questions with another pair and answer the questions thy have given �Swap back and mark their answers

Key terminology