Subcultural Theories : Delinquent Boys Theory

Most people have preconceived notions regarding the relationship between social class and delinquency. A common assumption is that lower-class juveniles are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior than their higher-class counterparts. Criminologists have performed a large number of studies examining the socio-demographic characteristics of delinquents, which often yielded contradictory results. When analyzing the extent and trend of juvenile delinquency in the United States conclusions can be drawn from estimates derived from arrest records, self-reports, and victimization data. Arrest estimates, self-reported information, and victimization data provide different estimates of the extent of delinquency in the United States (Maxfield et

Based on the social disorganization theory; Shaw and McKay account for high crime begins with poverty, low socioeconomic status and the inability to “control the teenage population,” (Sampson, 2016). Shaw and McKay also knew that within the community, delinquency was a trait that was picked-up by and from other delinquents. Furthermore, if the ability to control young

The alternate system set up by the lower-class, working class is shrouded in hostility and frustration towards the middle-class. The said system values everything that the middle class rejects, better known as reaction formation to the frustration (Cohen, 1955, p. 133) For example, Cohen outlines that the middle class values private property and respect for individuals, while the delinquent subculture values theft of private property and aggression and violence towards others. Finally, Cohen underlines this as the way in which delinquent subcultures emergence and prevails within inner cities (Cohen, 1955). Various problems are outlined by Cohen which address the ongoing nature of the delinquent subculture, one of them being the school system. Within the schools, the

Criminology data show a strong correlation between undereducated children and juvenile crime. Children who struggle academically in school, have poor attendance, are expelled, or drop out, likelihood to commit crime increases. The social skills such as learning how to have ownership through deadlines, following instructions, and overall dealing with people constructively, are thrown out the door when a student doesn’t finish school. A child who doesn’t end up having a proper education soon realizes he or she can’t get certain jobs due to their insufficient education and feels hopelessness. According to social strain theory, his or her feeling towards social differences are magnified and pushes him or her to attain the “American Dream” or financial security through

A subculture is an offshoot of referential cultural but in essence very different from culture. The term subculture is commonly employed to signify shared systems of common values, norms and interests that distinguish certain people and societies from others. Thus, criminal or delinquent subcultures indicate systems of standards, morals and interests that endorse criminal or delinquent behavior. The numerous activities categorized in law as criminal are related to numerous delinquent subcultures. The standards, morals, or interests of these subcultures might back specific criminal acts, a restricted set of such actions (Anderson 1999). Trained criminals for instance are proud of their craft; manage their profession in order to keep them safe and their business proficient and usually stay away from other criminal involvement that might bring them to legal light. However, not all criminal subcultures that well organized. A number of are merely opportunistic, accepting several kinds of criminal behavior as opportunities come up. Hence specialization is rare in delinquent subcultures.

Criminological theories have evolved considerably in terms of their interpretations of crime and deviance. Shifting away from the classical and neoclassical schools of criminology, we move towards a scientific approach that explains criminal behaviour as “determined by biological, psychological and social” (William & McShane, 2018: 25) factors. The question of what causes conformity and deviance is one that is asked by all positivist theorists. It is through the various positivist theories that we are able to answer this question and analyze both conforming and deviant behaviour, while simultaneously providing explanations for such behaviour. In the film Boyz N the Hood, we can see that crime is rampant, and through the multiple positivist

Similar to Merton and Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin (1960) attempted to explain why certain individuals or groups are more likely to engage in criminal activities. As well, they argued that people are strained when they fail to obtain monetary success through legitimate means. Cloward and Ohlin were in favor of thought that juveniles from a lower-class demographic are motivated by the pursuit of status and that forming their own subculture is a solution to not being able to adjust to their dominant cultural values (Cloward & Ohlin, 1960).

Juvenile delinquents are minors, usually defined as being between the ages of 10 and 18, who have committed some act that violates the law. These acts aren’t called “crimes” as they would be for adults. Rather, crimes committed by minors are called “delinquent acts.” Instead of a trial, the juvenile has an “adjudication,” after which he/she receives a “disposition” and a sentence. However, juvenile proceedings differ from adult proceedings in a number of ways (Reuters, 2017). Delinquent acts are put into two categories. The first category of a delinquent act is one that would be considered a crime had an adult committed it. Given the serious nature of the crime(s), some jurisdictions will try young offenders as adults. The second type of delinquent act is age related or “status crimes” meaning that the crime(s) wouldn’t normally be performed or committed by an adult. For example, staying out past curfew or skipping school known as truancy is an act of a status crime or age related crime.

Another explanation of why the inequalities in punishment persist, is the perception in which one handles themselves. In addition to race, social class, and education, it was clear that these adolescents did not want to get caught for multiple reasons. Reasons including the history of their parents, their education levels, and their overall honor. These kids knew they were not bad, and when individuals accused them of being delinquent, they made sure to prove everyone wrong, including the overall community, police officers, and derogatory labels, such as

The socioeconomic stratification system shows a great disparity when examine the two polar ends of the spectrum; one is a high elevated class and the other a poor lower class. The high socioeconomic status creates an affluent neighborhood of well-kept and normative values of society; such as violence is wrong and a person maintains respect though hard work and opening his/her pocketbook. Meanwhile the lower class status formulates a broken and rundown neighborhood where social stress and chaos roam the streets through juvenile gangs, which promote their own personal values (such as encouraging violence, sex, and drugs) known as “the code of the street.” Elijah Anderson’s book, Code of the Street: Delinquency, Violence, and the Moral Life

The following major crime offender characteristics, age, sex, race, and social class, can greatly influence criminals in their own different ways. However, the most the characteristic that can have a bigger impact in some cases is social class. Out of the four characteristics listed, this is the only one that can be changed. The age, sex or race of a person cannot be changed while social class is in fact changeable. A person can change either legally or illegally their social class. If a person is raised in poverty or the lower class of society, regardless of of their sex or race, they desire to have nicer things and live a better life. Living in the lower class society is a motive in itself to have more

Chapter 7 discusses a variety of "Subcultural" theories for explaining crime. Choose one of these theories and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. Which subcultural theory do you believe explains criminal behavior most accurately and why?

When it comes to creating a prevention or intervention program towards females who are criminals another theory that can be associated with female gang prevention and intervention programs may be the Subcultural Theory and Albert Cohen. The concept of Subcultural Theories focus upon the poor or lower socioeconomic classes to explain deviance and crime causation. In 1955, Cohen studied gangs and disagreed with Merton’s view that people’s strain wasn’t also affected by their interactions with others. Cohen studied male youth gangs and his view is male centered. He believed that that the United States is dominated by the middle-class materialism. The socialization of poor and lower class groups differ from the middle-class. This leads to what Cohen calls Status Frustration, which rises with failing school performance and ultimately creates a foundation

The corner boy is the most common response. They are not chronically delinquent but may be involved in petty or status offenses. He is loyal to his peers and eventually becomes a stable member of his neighborhood. The college boy embraces the cultural and social values of the middle class and strives to be successful by these standards. These youths are on an almost hopeless path because they are ill-equipped academically, socially, and linguistically to achieve the rewards of middle class life. The delinquent boy adopts a set of norms and principles in direct opposition to middle class values. They live for the day and do not think about tomorrow. They go against efforts made by family, school, or other sources of authority to control their behavior. The attraction, loyalty, and solidarity are some of the reasons they join gangs along with the gangs perception of autonomy and independence. Reaction formation is the result of the delinquent boy’s inability to succeed. The real problem for Cohen is status frustration, not blocked opportunity (Siegel, 2013). Lower-class youth desire approval and status, but because they cannot meet middle-class criteria, they become frustrated (Criminology chapter 4 outline sagepub.com). They overreact to any perceived threat or slight. They are also willing to take risk, violate the law, and flout middle-class conventions. Cohen’s work explains the factors that promote and sustain a

Across the nation, social scientists and criminologists have researched and hypothesized the main contributing factors that promote juvenile delinquency. The Strain/ Anomie theory introduced by Robert Merton and later revised by several other theorists, attempts to explain why juvenile subculture tend to behave certain ways when confronted with pressures from everyday life. Revised by other theorists, the Strain theory attempts to provide the framework of juvenile delinquency and its sources in order to analyze the effectiveness of this assumption, as well as to implement certain crime prevention policies and programs to curb this problem. This paper is going to analyze how the Strain theory contributes it’s principles of delinquency