subculture

Question 1

ALBERT COHEN – STATUS FRUSTRATION
Q: What did Cohen say about working-class boys?

Q: What is an alternative status hierarchy?

Answer 1

A: They face status frustration from failure in the education system → form delinquent subcultures with alternative status hierarchies.

A: A set of deviant values (e.g. gaining respect through vandalism or fighting) that give boys status among peers.

Question 2

What are Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures?
A:

Answer 2

Criminal – organised crime, apprenticeship in crime (e.g. mafia)

Conflict – disorganised violence, territorial (e.g. gang warfare)

Retreatist – drug use and addiction (failed at both legitimate and criminal success)

Question 3

MILLER – FOCAL CONCERNS
Q: What are Miller’s focal concerns?
A: Working-class boys are not frustrated; they have their own subculture with values like:

Answer 3

Toughness

Smartness

Excitement

Autonomy

Trouble

Fate

Question 4

MATZA – DELINQUENCY AND DRIFT
Q: What did Matza argue about youth crime?

Answer 4

A: Most young people drift in and out of crime and use techniques of neutralisation (e.g. “no one got hurt”).

Question 5

: What does Matza’s theory challenge?

Answer 5

A: That delinquents are fully committed to deviant values — they often share mainstream norms.

Question 6

Q: Criticisms of subcultural theory?

Answer 6

❌ Too focused on males – ignores female deviance (feminist critique)
❌ Ignores white-collar/corporate crime
❌ Assumes value consensus exists
❌ Matza: young people may not reject norms, just drift temporarily