Overall evaluation of subcultural theories

Question 1

How does Matza critique subcultural theories?

Answer 1

• too deterministic in how they see deviance as the result of forces beyond control of individuals
• ignores the choices that people have over their actions

Question 2

How does Matza connect deviants to his idea of subterranean values?

Answer 2

• deviant is someone who acts on these values, often in extremes, in the wrong place and at wrong time
• don’t necessarily reject rules/ norms just misplaced

Question 3

Does Matza believe most delinquents are strongly committed to a subculture?

Answer 3

• no, they merely drift in and out of delinquency as a result of triggers

Question 4

Why does Matza believe period of youth to pronounce certain triggers for deviance?

Answer 4

• it’s a period of limbo in which the boundaries constraining behaviour are loosened
• boredom, liberation, peer influence can be strong ie. exploiting new freedoms

Question 5

After drifting into delinquency, Matza argues that individuals are aware their behaviour is inappropriate - how do they cope with this?

Answer 5

• justify their actions through techniques of justification
• to neutralise the effects of their actions
• eg. apologise, submit and admit, ‘i was drunk’ ‘forced into it’ ‘it was a one-off’

Question 6

While critics have pointed out that the theories are gender blind, what have supporters said?

Answer 6

• they are a product of their time/ culture

Question 7

While critics have accused the theories of being class biased, what have supporters said?

Answer 7

• that the theories don’t pretend to be general theories of crime, its main concern was that of wc class

Question 8

Give an example of how subcultural theory has had an impact on later theories of crime and government policy

Answer 8

• 1960s: Ohlin asked to help develop new federal policy on juvenile delinquency
• led to Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Act and a programme designed to deter young people from committing crime