Cultural theories of crime | Summaries Translation Theory

Subculture of Violence (Wolfgang and Ferracuti)

They lay out their theory in 7 propositions:

1.No subculture can be totally different from or totally in conflict with the society in which is

a part

2.To establish the existence of a subculture of violence does not require that the actors

sharing in these basic value elements should express violence in all situations

3.The potential resort or willingness to resort to violence in a variety of situations

emphasizes the penetrating and diffusive character of the culture theme

4.The subculture ethos of violence may be shared buy all ages within the sub-society but this

ethos is most prominent in limited age group, ranging for late adolescence to middle age

5.The counter-norm is nonviolence

6.The development of favorable attitudes toward, and the use of, violence in a subculture

usually involve learned behavior and a process of differential learning, association or

identification

7.The use of violence in the subculture is not necessarily viewed as illicit conduct and the

users therefore do not have to deal with feelings of guilt about their aggression

Subcultures are not completely at odds with the larger culture

oTheir formation is normal

Subcultures do not unconditionally approve the use of violence and attitudes towards

violence are not necessarily equally shared by all members of the subculture

oInstead, violence is an expected and even required response to a range of

situations

oBroader range of situations than those recognized by the larger culture

oViolence is only required in certain situations

Delinquent Boys (Cohen)

Draws on Subcultural Theory and Merton's Anomie/Strain Theory

Argue that delinquency is caused by goal blockage (strain)

oFor lower and working class bout the goal is MID-Class status

oAdjustment to middle-class strained for lower and working class boys; these

problems with adjustment increase cohesiveness with similarly situated others

oBecause mid class cannot be obtained legitimately among the group, an

alternative system is such up by which success can be obtained (subculture)

Delinquency and Opportunity (Cloward and Ohlin)

Also incorporates anomie/strain and subculture theory

The inability to achieve monetary success (strain) allows for subcultures to develop

oAgain, maladjustment is key especially if it is consistent/permanent

oCan result in alienation from the larger culture and social order, thus facilitating

movement into the subculture

However, the pressures that lead to deviant patterns/subcultural involvement does not

necessarily determine the resulting deviance

The type of deviance one engages in is also a function of the DEVIANT

OPPORTUNITIES available via their neighborhoods

oJust as legitimate opportunities are not equally distributed, neither are illegitimate

ones

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Subculture of Violence (Wolfgang and Ferracuti) They lay out their theory in 7 propositions: 1.No subculture can be totally different from or totally in conflict with the society in which is a part 2.To establish the existence of a subculture of violence does not require that the actors sharing in these basic value elements should express violence in all situations 3.The potential resort or willingness to resort to violence in a variety of situations emphasizes the penetrating and diffusive character of the culture theme 4.The subculture ethos of violence may be shared buy all ages within the sub-society but this ethos is most prominent in limited age group, ranging for late adolescence to middle age 5.The counter-norm is nonviolence 6.The development of favorable attitudes toward, and the use of, violence in a subculture usually involve learned behavior and a process of differential learning, association or identification 7.The use of violence in the subculture is not necessarily viewed as illicit conduct and the users therefore do not have to deal with feelings of guilt about their aggression  Subcultures are not completely at odds with the larger culture o Their formation is normal  Subcultures do not unconditionally approve the use of violence and attitudes towards violence are not necessarily equally shared by all members of the subculture o Instead, violence is an expected and even required response to a range of situations o Broader range of situations than those recognized by the larger culture o Violence is only required in certain situations Delinquent Boys (Cohen)  Draws on Subcultural Theory and Merton's Anomie/Strain Theory  Argue that delinquency is caused by goal blockage (strain) o For lower and working class bout the goal is MID-Class status o Adjustment to middle-class strained for lower and working class boys; these problems with adjustment increase cohesiveness with similarly situated others o Because mid class cannot be obtained legitimately among the group, an alternative system is such up by which success can be obtained (subculture) Delinquency and Opportunity (Cloward and Ohlin)  Also incorporates anomie/strain and subculture theory  The inability to achieve monetary success (strain) allows for subcultures to develop o Again, maladjustment is key especially if it is consistent/permanent o Can result in alienation from the larger culture and social order, thus facilitating movement into the subculture  However, the pressures that lead to deviant patterns/subcultural involvement does not necessarily determine the resulting deviance  The type of deviance one engages in is also a function of the DEVIANT OPPORTUNITIES available via their neighborhoods o Just as legitimate opportunities are not equally distributed, neither are illegitimate ones

o (3) Types of Subcultures/Gangs (the one adapted depends on neighborhood characteristics): o 1. Criminal Gang/Subculture  Seeks money via crime o 2. Conflict Gang/Subculture  Uses violence to obtain respect o 3. Retreatism Gang/Subculture  Uses drugs: seeks ecstatic experience Code of the Street (Anderson)  Ethnographic research o Differs form quantitative research o Ethnographers spend time in the settings they are researching, observing and talking with members of the setting o Strategy is to take the observations and descriptions of the members to explain crime and criminality o Results in rich data o Trade off is limited generalizability o Argues there are 2 groups within the community with different value orientations:

Decent families/youth
Street families/youth  Decent Families o majority within the community o Adhere to mainstream goals and values o Involved in pro social activities (i.e., church, school)  Street Families o Make up the oppositional subculture o Structurally blocked out of mainstream o Little faith in the police and judicial system  They develop the Code of the Street o A set of informal rules governing interpersonal public behavior, including violence o The goal of those adhering to the Code is respect Policy Implications Reduce deprivation  Given it increases the likelihood of subcultural formation and participation  How do we do this? Limitations  Seems to explain SES and Race difference in criminality  Gender Differences? When it comes to female gang violence, it can be accounted for as the same way as males. According to Subcultural theories, can account for all the ways that subculture theory states why gang violence occurs, it is not just to one gender. We know that females can be gang members,

Cultural theories of crime, Summaries of Translation Theory

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