Functionalist Subcultural Theories - Cloward and Ohlin: Opportunity Structures Flashcards
What do Cloward and Ohlin consider about subcultures?
Consider why deviant subcultures commit different types of crime
How do Cloward and Ohlin agree with Merton?
Agree with Merton that WC males commit deviance when the legitimate route to success is blocked
How do Cloward and Ohlin’s views differ from Merton?
Differ because of the environment in which they grow up, creating three different types of subculture with different opportunities for crime
What are Cloward and Ohlin’s three different opportunity structures?
Criminal subcultures
Conflict subcultures
Retreatist subcultures
According to Cloward and Ohlin what is a criminal subculture?
Areas with a stable, well established criminal network which creates an illegitimate opportunity structure for young men to be socialised into a successful career in utilitarian crime
According to Cloward and Ohlin what is a conflict subculture?
Areas in high population turnover so no established criminal network meaning no illegitimate opportunity structure
Leads to frustration and anger leading to non-utilitarian crimes such as violence to gain respect from their peers
According to Cloward and Ohlin what is a retreatist subculture?
Failed through both legitimate and illegitimate means so are double failures creating subcultures based on illegal drug use
What are the criticisms of Cloward and Ohlin?
Explain why different subcultures commit different types of crime
Not all working-class commit crime
Miller: not all the WC share the same cultural goal
