Matza and Miller

• Matza and Miller toughness

  Miller

  a concern for masculinity and find expression in the rejection of timidness and weakness

  this can result in assault as the group attempts to maintain their reputation
• Matza and Miller Smartness

  Miller

  the capacity to outwit and take from others - pickpocket, petty theft

  'street' smart
• matza miller autonomy

  Miller

  a general resentment towards authority and a desire to have control in their lives
• matza miller excitement

  Miller

  thrill seeking
• matza miller fate

  miller

  the belief that little can be done in their lives - ce sera ce sera
• matza miller trouble

  miller

  young wc men accept their lives will involve violence
• matza miller why commit crime

  miller

  • they are acting out of concern for their culture
  • due to socialisation for many generations
  • result of the need to ensure a pool of low skilled labour
• matza miller criticism of miller

  Bordua

  this presents a picture of a group living their lives isolated from mainstream society
• matza miller drift

  Matza

  explain why only some young people commit crime as youths feel they lack control in their lives

  argues during this period of drift, teens are more susceptible to delinquency

  however matza does not provide a framework of structural and economic circumstances that might explain why wc men are driven to higher delinquency rates
• matza miller conventional values

  matza

  claims delinquents are similar to everyone else in their values and display similar feelings of outrage about crime
• matza miller subterranean values

  matza

  argue we hold 2 levels of values

  the values that guide us most of the time are respectable

  but the 2nd level of values would be underlying values of greed and aggressiveness - generally held under control
• matza miller techniques of neutralisation

  matza

  argue criminals use techniques of neutralisation as they know their actions are deviant as the share the value consensus as the rest of society

  they will deny responsibility, injury and appeal to higher loyalties

  however critics argue this is just excuses to get away with their crimes
• matza miller criticism of neutralisation

  • if a young person wishes to gain control over their destiny, why commit a crime ?
  • evidence that criminals are remorseful may not be truthful
  • difficulty in operationalising drift