Outline three functions that crime and deviance may perform. [6 marks June 2017]
One function is it reaffirms boundaries as it sends out a message of what people should not do to
avoid being punished.
Another function is it brings about social change as it shows us what is wrong with society and how
we can adapt.
It benefits capitalism and the Bourgeoisie by allowing them to become wealthier.
Item A
Every society sets goals for its members. However, not every member has an equal chance of
achieving these mainstream goals by legitimate means. For example, some young people may
underachieve at school. Similarly, living in a deprived or unstable neighbourhood can be a barrier
to the achievement of mainstream goals. Deviant subcultures respond to the difficulties of
achieving mainstream goals in different ways.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which deviant subcultures may respond to the
difficulties of achieving mainstream goals. [10 marks June 2017]
One way subcultures may cope with the difficulties of achieving mainstream goals is by creating an
illegitimate opportunity structure to gain status. Cohen states “some young people may underachieve at
school”, these are usually working class boys who try to emulate middle class values but fail. Consequently
leading to status frustration which is a sense of personal failure and inadequacy. In order to overcome this,
these boys form a subculture where they reject the school's values and create their own which they could
succeed in. Boys release their status frustration through antisocial, deviant behaviours such as truanting,
graffiti and violence. The subculture's function is to offer an illegitimate opportunity structure through which
they can gain status through non utilitarian crime. However, Cohen is not useful in explaining how not all
deviant subcultures can succeed in the illegitimate opportunity structure. Also for assuming all working boys
begin sharing middle class goals and see themselves as failures.
Cloward and Ohlin argue that not all deviant subcultures respond to the difficulties of achieving mainstream
goals in the same way. They argue that the neighbourhood a person lives in creates different types of
subculture in response to attaining goals. Criminal neighbourhoods provide youths with an apprenticeship for
a career in utilitarian crime, these arise in neighbourhoods with a long standing and stable criminal culture.
There is a system of criminal role allocation where young people can be trained by adult criminals who can give
them opportunities for employment. For example, the Kray twins were part of a criminal subculture in East
London and a pattern of organised adult crime. On the other hand, “deprived or unstable” neighbourhoods
create a conflict subculture occurring in many council housing estates, consisting of high levels of
disorganisation preventing a stable, professional criminal career. Often these young men in this subculture
commit very violent acts to release their status frustration which furthermore limits chance of success. For
example, postcode wars occur when rival gangs commit violent acts against each other, the chances of
becoming killed, stabbed or in prison are very high in these subcultures and are greater than the chance to be
a successful, wealthy criminal. South criticises Cloward and Ohlin for drawing boundaries too sharp between
subcultures. For example, they are not as distinct as drug trade is a mixture of disorganised and professional
crime.
One function is it reaffirms boundaries as it sends out a message of what people should not do to
avoid being punished.
Another function is it brings about social change as it shows us what is wrong with society and how
we can adapt.
It benefits capitalism and the Bourgeoisie by allowing them to become wealthier.
Item A
Every society sets goals for its members. However, not every member has an equal chance of
achieving these mainstream goals by legitimate means. For example, some young people may
underachieve at school. Similarly, living in a deprived or unstable neighbourhood can be a barrier
to the achievement of mainstream goals. Deviant subcultures respond to the difficulties of
achieving mainstream goals in different ways.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which deviant subcultures may respond to the
difficulties of achieving mainstream goals. [10 marks June 2017]
One way subcultures may cope with the difficulties of achieving mainstream goals is by creating an
illegitimate opportunity structure to gain status. Cohen states “some young people may underachieve at
school”, these are usually working class boys who try to emulate middle class values but fail. Consequently
leading to status frustration which is a sense of personal failure and inadequacy. In order to overcome this,
these boys form a subculture where they reject the school's values and create their own which they could
succeed in. Boys release their status frustration through antisocial, deviant behaviours such as truanting,
graffiti and violence. The subculture's function is to offer an illegitimate opportunity structure through which
they can gain status through non utilitarian crime. However, Cohen is not useful in explaining how not all
deviant subcultures can succeed in the illegitimate opportunity structure. Also for assuming all working boys
begin sharing middle class goals and see themselves as failures.
Cloward and Ohlin argue that not all deviant subcultures respond to the difficulties of achieving mainstream
goals in the same way. They argue that the neighbourhood a person lives in creates different types of
subculture in response to attaining goals. Criminal neighbourhoods provide youths with an apprenticeship for
a career in utilitarian crime, these arise in neighbourhoods with a long standing and stable criminal culture.
There is a system of criminal role allocation where young people can be trained by adult criminals who can give
them opportunities for employment. For example, the Kray twins were part of a criminal subculture in East
London and a pattern of organised adult crime. On the other hand, “deprived or unstable” neighbourhoods
create a conflict subculture occurring in many council housing estates, consisting of high levels of
disorganisation preventing a stable, professional criminal career. Often these young men in this subculture
commit very violent acts to release their status frustration which furthermore limits chance of success. For
example, postcode wars occur when rival gangs commit violent acts against each other, the chances of
becoming killed, stabbed or in prison are very high in these subcultures and are greater than the chance to be
a successful, wealthy criminal. South criticises Cloward and Ohlin for drawing boundaries too sharp between
subcultures. For example, they are not as distinct as drug trade is a mixture of disorganised and professional
crime.
