Cohen

• Albert Cohen, Sub-cultural theory for delinquency sub-culture


  1955
• Sub-cultural theory


  Explains juvenile delinquency and adult crime in terms of the values of a particular sub-culture
• Sub-cultural theory


  • Delinquency is carried out by groups rather than individuals
  • Young people learn to become delinquents by joining gangs where delinquent behaviour is the norm
  • Delinquency involves being part of a delinquent sub-culture among boys' gangs in urban neighbourhoods of large cities
• Working-class boys experience status frustration

  From failing to meet middle-class expectations at school
• Being part of a delinquent sub-culture


  Enables these boys to gain status within their group and reject the school system that branded them as failures
• Cohen linked juvenile delinquency to the education system, arguing that schools are based on middle-class values and expectations which working-class boys cannot compete on equal terms with middle-class boys to get status and qualifications through education
• Criticisms of Cohen

  • Cohen's analysis shows a middle-class bias
  • Cohen assumes that working-class delinquency starts out by accepting middle-class aspirations such as educational success
  • Cohen focuses on delinquent boys in gangs, feminists argue how far his explanation applies to girls