subcultural theories

• key idea

  individuals whose legitimate opportunities are blocked may turn to deviant subcultures as an alternative means of achieving status
• Strengths

  • show how subcultures perform a function for their members by offering solutions to the problem of failing to achieve mainstream goals legitimately
  • show how different types of neighbourhood give rise to different illegitimate opportunities and different subcultures
• Limitations

  • ignores crime of the wealthy
  • assume everyone starts with the same mainstream goals and turn to subcultures when they can’t achieve them
  • actual subcultures are not as clear-cut as Cloward and Ohlin claim