Subcultural theories

• Delinquent subcultures


  Groups whose norms and values are deviant
• Subcultural theories


  • Apply Merton's idea of strain between goals and means
  • Their key idea is that these subcultures enable their members to gain status by illegitimate means
• Cohen


  Status frustration
• Cloward & Ohlin


  Three subcultures that boys who perform poorly in school are likely to be: Criminal - involving property crime, Conflict - involving violence, Retreatist - involving drugs
• Boys who perform poorly in school

  Are likely to form delinquent subcultures
• Delinquent subcultures


  Enable their members to gain status by illegitimate means
• Fighting or vandalism are ways in which members of delinquent subcultures earn respect amongst their group