Overview
This lecture examines Cloward and Ohlin's subcultural theories of crime and deviance, focusing on the types of subcultures that arise due to blocked opportunities among young males.
Cloward and Ohlin's Subcultural Theory
- Builds on Merton's strain theory and Cohen's work on status frustration.
- Suggests young males join subcultures to gain status denied through legitimate means.
- Argues there is a diversity of subcultural responses depending on local opportunity structures.
Types of Subcultures Identified by Cloward and Ohlin
- Criminal Subcultures: Found in areas with established criminal networks; focus on utilitarian crimes like drug dealing, prostitution, and protection rackets.
- Young males are mentored into crime via low-level roles and may progress if they fit in.
- Conflict Subcultures: Develop in transitional areas with weak community bonds and little organized crime; status gained through violence and gang rivalry.
- These subcultures provide a release for frustration stemming from blocked legitimate and illegitimate opportunities.
- Retreatist Subcultures: Formed by individuals unable to join criminal or conflict subcultures; focus on substance abuse and petty crime as escape mechanisms.
Contemporary Examples and Criticisms
- Gang cultures in UK cities and US regions reflect Cloward and Ohlin's subcultural responses.
- Critics like South argue lines between criminal and conflict subcultures are often blurred (e.g., drug trade).
- Another criticism is the assumption that everyone values mainstream norms and actively rejects them when blocked.
- Matza (to be discussed separately) criticized the theory, suggesting criminality may be a temporary phase ("delinquency and drift").
Key Terms & Definitions
- Subculture — A group with values and norms distinct from the wider society.
- Blocked Opportunity — The inability to achieve success via legitimate means.
- Criminal Subculture — Organized groups focused on profit-driven crime.
- Conflict Subculture — Gangs emphasizing violence and status through conflict.
- Retreatist Subculture — Groups retreating into drug abuse and petty crime after failing in other avenues.
- Status Frustration — The feeling of inadequacy when unable to achieve success legitimately.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Matza’s "delinquency and drift" theory in the next video.
- Prepare examples of how subcultural theory applies to contemporary youth crime for discussion.