Functionalist

• What theory did functionalist subcultural theories of crime and deviance emerge from?

  Merton’s anomie theory
• How do subcultural theories explain the group nature of crime and deviance?

  Through the concept of subcultures with differing norms and values
• What alternative does subcultures provide for those faced with blocked opportunities?

  An alternative deviant opportunity structure
• Who focused on deviance among working-class boys in the context of the middle-class dominated school system?

  Cohen
• What do working-class youths face due to their low position in the social class structure?

  Blocked opportunities
• What is the consequence of working-class youths suffering from status frustration?

  They are unable to achieve mainstream success goals legitimately
• Who provided empirical support for the idea that the underclass faces blocked opportunities?

  Morrison
• How does Cohen extend Merton’s theory regarding cultural causes of crime and deviance?

  By incorporating a strong cultural element into his explanation
• What do some working-class youths do in response to status frustration?

  They completely reject mainstream norms and values
• What type of acts do delinquent subcultures place a high value on?

  Negativistic delinquent acts
• What does the delinquent subculture provide for its members?

  An alternative means of gaining status
• How do the values of the delinquent subculture differ from mainstream society?

  They invert the values of mainstream society
• What does Miller argue about deviant subcultures?

  They emerge out of working-class culture that values toughness and excitement
• What is one theoretical strength of Cohen’s strain theory?

  It explains non-utilitarian/non-money making deviance
• What assumption does Cohen make about working-class boys in his theory?

  That they initially share middle-class goals
• What do functionalist subcultural theories fail to explain according to their critics?

  Adult white-collar crime and female subcultural delinquency
• How do subcultural theorists compare to early functionalists regarding juvenile crimes?

  They provide superior explanations for juvenile crimes
• What do interactionists criticize subcultural theories for ignoring?

  The social construction of crime and deviance
• What does Matza argue about distinctive groups with their own values?

  There is little evidence for their existence
• What does Matza suggest about individuals and delinquency?


  Individuals drift in and out of delinquency
• What is one technique of neutralization mentioned by Matza?

  Denial of responsibility
• What do Cloward and Ohlin accept from Merton and Cohen?


  Their views on the structural causes of crime and deviance
• What do Cloward and Ohlin argue about different subcultural responses?

  They explain why different subcultural responses occur
• What do Cloward and Ohlin identify as a factor in different neighbourhoods?

  Different illegitimate opportunities to learn criminal skills
• What are the three types of deviant subcultures identified by Cloward and Ohlin?

  1. Criminal subcultures: Apprenticeship for utilitarian crime
  2. Conflict subcultures: Develop in socially disorganized areas
  3. Retreatist subcultures: Fail to access both legitimate and illegitimate opportunities
• What do criminal subcultures provide for youths?

  An apprenticeship for a career in utilitarian crime
• What characterizes conflict subcultures?

  High population turnover leading to social disorganization
• What do retreatist subcultures result from according to Cloward and Ohlin?

  Individuals failing to access both legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures
• What is one evaluation point of Cloward and Ohlin's theory?

  They provide an explanation for different types of working-class deviance
• What criticism does South (2014) have regarding Cloward and Ohlin's theory?

  The boundaries between different deviant subcultures are not as clear-cut as implied
• What are the key points in the conclusion regarding functionalist theories of crime and deviance?

  • Highlight links between social structure, culture, and crime
  • Recent strain theories recognize non-material goals
  • Ignore issues of power and biased policing
• What do recent strain theories recognize as a cause of delinquency?

  Failure to achieve non-material goals
• How do police act as agents of social control according to the conclusion?

  They shape patterns of crime and deviance through biased policing
• What is one of the recommended further readings for sociology?

  AQA A level Sociology, Book Two by Webb R et al.
• What type of questions are included in the sample A level questions?

  Questions that outline reasons and analyze functions of deviance
• What is the mark allocation for the question on evaluating the contribution of strain theories?

  30 marks