Functionalist Subcultural Theories

Question 1

What do Functionalists say strain theory can explain for young working class people?

Answer 1

Explains why they join deviant subcultures

Question 2

Who created strain theory?

Answer 2

Merton

Question 3

According to Merton, what is the shared goal in the USA?

Answer 3

The American Dream

Question 4

Within the shared goal in the USA, what do people aspire to own?

Answer 4

A house and a car

Question 5

What is the socially accepted way to achieve the American Dream?

Answer 5

Get a job

Question 6

What is the name for people who try to achieve the American dream by socially acceptable means?

Answer 6

Conformists

Question 7

Would Conformists commit crime?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

Why would Conformists not commit crimes?

Answer 8

Because they want to achieve the American Dream in a socially acceptable way

Question 9

Would Innovators commit crime?

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

Why would Innovators commit crimes?

Answer 10

Because they want to achieve the American Dream in ways that are socially unacceptable

Question 11

Name something Innovators would do to achieve the American Dream

Answer 11

Sell drugs

Question 12

What would Marxists say about Functionalist subcultural theory explanations as to why working class people commit crime?

Answer 12

They fail to explain why middle class people commit crimes

Question 13

What 2 types of crime do Marxists say middle class people commit?

Answer 13

White collar crimes and corporate crimes

Question 14

Which Marxists said middle class people commit white collar crimes as it is less likely they will be prosecuted?

Answer 14

Croall

Question 15

How many reasons did Croall create as to why middle class people committed crimes?

Answer 15

3

Question 16

Name 2 reasons Croall created as to why middle class people will not be prosecuted for white collar crimes

Answer 16

1. Responsibility is diffused 2. It is unlikely the victims and offenders will come face to face

Question 17

What do Functionalists say status frustration can explain for young working class people?

Answer 17

It can explain why they join deviant subcultures

Question 18

Who created the concept of status frustration?

Answer 18

Cohen

Question 19

What did Cohen find the boys in his study initially tried to do?

Answer 19

Gain status in education similar to middle class students

Question 20

What did Cohen find the working class boys did after a short while?

Answer 20

Stopped trying to gain status in education as it was too difficult

Question 21

How did Cohen find the working class boys felt about their failure?

Answer 21

They experienced status frustration

Question 22

Why did the working class boys experience status frustration?

Answer 22

They felt unable to achieve success in education as working class students

Question 23

Name 2 deviant behaviours the working class boys engaged in in Cohen’s study

Answer 23

Vandalism, Violence

Question 24

What had the status-frustrated boys done with their values?

Answer 24

They had fully deviated them from middle class values

Question 25

What would Feminists argue about Functionalist subcultural theories?

Answer 25

They fail to explain why girls join deviant subcultures

Question 26

What does Jackson call girls who join ASSC's?

Answer 26

Anti-School Subcultures

Question 27

What reason did Jackson find for girls joining ASSC's ?

Answer 27

Fear of Failure

Question 28

What was fear of failure for the girls?

Answer 28

They were worried of not doing well in education so decided to not try at all

Question 29

Which Feminist studied girls in gangs?

Answer 29

Batchelor

Question 30

What was the family background of the girls in gangs?

Answer 30

They had dysfunctional families

Question 31

What were girls looking for by joining gangs?

Answer 31

Looking for a sense of belonging

Question 32

How did girls experience gang life differently?

Answer 32

They were sexually exploited

Question 33

What do Functionalists say differential opportunity theory can explain for young working class people?

Answer 33

Explains why they join deviant subcultures

Question 34

Who created differential opportunity theory?

Answer 34

Cloward and Ohlin

Question 35

What did Cloward and Ohlin say most people use for success?

Answer 35

Legitimate opportunity structures

Question 36

What do young people turn to if they think they cant succeed using legitimate opportunity structures?

Answer 36

Illegitimate opportunity structures

Question 37

Which class of area is more likely to have illegitimate opportunity structures?

Answer 37

Working class areas

Question 38

What type of subculture will working class youths initially join as an illegitimate opportunity structure?

Answer 38

Criminal subculture

Question 39

What form of subcultures will working class youths turn to if rejected from criminal subcultures?

Answer 39

Conflict subcultures

Question 40

What do conflict subcultures focus on?

Answer 40

Protecting territory

Question 41

What form of subcultures will working class youths turn to if rejected from conflict subcultures?

Answer 41

Retreatist subcultures

Question 42

How do Retreatist subcultures behave?

Answer 42

They heavily use drugs

Question 43

Why do Retreatists subcultures follow this behaviour?

Answer 43

They have not been able to gain status in any other part of society

Question 44

What would Postmodernists say about Functionalist subcultural theories?

Answer 44

They are outdated

Question 45

What would Lyotard say about Functionalist subcultural theories?

Answer 45

They are an outdated metanarrative that no longer explains crime

Question 46

What concept did Lyotard create?

Answer 46

Fragmentation of society

Question 47

Who said there are no structural causes of crime?

Answer 47

Henry and Milovanovic

Question 48

Why did Henry and Milovanovic say there are no structural causes of crime?

Answer 48

There are too many reasons to why individuals commit crime

Question 49

What do Functionalists say working class youths having different focal concerns will lead to?

Answer 49

Lead to them joining deviant subcultures

Question 50

Which Functionalist said working class boys were socialised into values more likely to make them join deviant subcultures?

Answer 50

Miller

Question 51

What did Miller call the distinct values working class boys were taught making them join deviant subcultures?

Answer 51

Focal concerns

Question 52

What did Miller argue focal concerns were a form of?

Answer 52

Cultural deprivation

Question 53

What did it mean if Miller felt focal concerns were cultural deprivation?

Answer 53

The values working class boys were taught were inferior to middle class values

Question 54

What did the fate focal concern teach working class boys?

Answer 54

That they would not be able to improve their social status

Question 55

What did the toughness focal concern teach working class boys?

Answer 55

That they had to prove they were tough

Question 56

How did working class boys prove they were tough?

Answer 56

Fighting

Question 57

What would Marxists say about Functionalists believe working class boys are taught inferior norms and values?

Answer 57

This argument is too generalised

Question 58

What would Marxists say enforces the negative stereotype against working class people?

Answer 58

The media

Question 59

Who wrote the book "Chavs"?

Answer 59

Owen Jones

Question 60

What did Owen Jones say about media depiction of the working class?

Answer 60

The media made all working class people look lazy and claim benefits and committing crime

Question 61

What does Owen Jones say the reality is for most working class people?

Answer 61

They have jobs and do not commit crimes