Friday, May 22, 2020

Criminal and Delinquent Subcultures Essay - 2034 Words

Criminal and Delinquent Subcultures Crime and delinquency subculture reflects on culture patterns surrounding crime and juvenile delinquency. It is created not only by individuals, but as one culture, the American culture. Subculture is derivative of, but different from some larger referential cultures. This term is used to share systems of norms, values, individual, groups and the cultural system itself. Criminal or delinquent subcultures indicate systems of norms, values, or interest that support criminal or delinquent behavior. That’s why many juveniles are linked to the same criminal acts as youngsters. They tend to follow a pattern that is expected in their age group, like stealing. Young people experience their opportunity as†¦show more content†¦According to a article I read by Short, he stated that because subculture typically consist of collections of normative orders- rules and practices related to a common value, delinquents that affiliate themselves in gangs are oriented around a single valu e (such as being â€Å"macho†) are tended to act that way( p. 36). He also states that individuals who are associated with a particular subculture tend also to be associated with other subcultures. Some members of delinquent gangs may be the sole carriers of a particular subculture in a particular location, and some are shared. For example conflict subcultures are shared by rival fighting gangs among whom individual and group status involves values related to defense of turf and reputation and norms loyal of these values. Some subcultures oriented to theft and other forms of property crime which they are connected with a particular group. Some property crime involves more organizing and planning in order to succeed. Other crimes such as mugging may involve only one person who shares the same subculture as the larger group. In an article by Terry William’s it states that delinquent subcultures contain elements of both youth and adult cultures. It also stated that to speak of youth culture is to symbolize a subculture of the larger adult-dominated and institutionally defined culture (1989). Many of criminal subculture shares a symbolic relationship with their customs, manl y the peopleShow MoreRelatedDelinquent Youth Subcultures1636 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Delinquent Youth Subcultures 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 toRead MoreYouth Deviance Essay1376 Words   |  6 Pagespeople and their membership in deviant subcultures or gangs. Deviance is associated with young people today and is rapidly on the increase within the street and school environment. Young deviants are engaging in gang membership and subcultures with a means of social belonging, social interest and ethnic identity. There are several sociological and subcultural theories which deem to explain deviance. Some of the theories are functionalist pretentious that criminal activity is motivated by economicRead MoreBiological Determinism, Subculture Crime And Conflict Theories1652 Words   |  7 Pagesdeterminism, subculture crime and conflict theories. Biological determinism One of the best known application of biological determinism in relation to crime is from Cesare Lombroso who â€Å"Viewed criminals as suffering from a depravity caused by an atavistic reversion:† In other words, through a regression to the early form of life found in Humans ape-like ancestors. â€Å"Lombroso believed that if a person had five or more stigmas then they will likely be atavistic and were born a criminal† . A stigmataRead MoreTheory of Delinquency1458 Words   |  6 Pagesfocus on subcultures, i.e. groups within wider society with norms, lifestyles and values distinct from those of mainstream society. The focus in sub-cultural theories is on delinquency. In the UK, a preoccupation with the idea that future crime was determined by juvenile delinquency came about as a result of the 1895 UK Gladstone Committee, wherein research focused on gang culture among young males (aged 16-25). Deviance is perceived by sub-cultural theorists as a product of a subculture of delinquencyRead MoreWhy People Commit Crime?1417 Words   |  6 Pages2012). Others like Albert Cohen, in his book â€Å"Delinquent Boys,† theorize that delinquent youth subcultures emerge when young men in the lower-class, feel the strain of not being able to measure up to middle class expectations. These theories, and others influenced by similar beliefs, support biases that exist within our society, media, and even law enforcement. These biases have consequences for youth in the lower class who are labelled as ‘delinquents.’ They can also result in the ignorance ofRead MoreThe Theories Of Crime And Criminal Behavior1493 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent criminological theories and how they can explain crime and criminal behaviour differently. There is no universal definition of crime that gives a simple and straight forward definition. Crime is a constantly changing idea that changes due to the persons perceptions of what they would classify as ‘crime’ and what is regarded as criminal behaviour (crime and criminology). There is also no straightforward way of explaining what criminal behaviour is, as it can be something that breaks the law. HoweverRead MoreExamine the Relationship Between Deviance and Labeling1521 Words   |  7 Pagesand labelling is partly based on the view of the stereotypical criminal. This stereotype suggests a white, working class, male as a deviant, making them a ‘suspect’ before they’ve even committed a deviant act. However, whether an act is labelled as deviant depends on who commits the act, where and when it’s committed, and how it is interpreted – and the label the individual is given as a result. Functionalists label the typical criminal as a young, working class male. They then produce theories basedRead MoreOutline and Evaluate Functionalist Explanation of Crime.1442 Words   |  6 Pagesstatus in mainstream society. They react to this by forming their own set of values- a delinquent subculture. This subculture is based on rebelling the accepted form of behaviour, for example, stealing replaces hard work. This gives the working-class youth an opportunity to achieve some status in their peer group which they are denied in the wider society. Cohen identifies elements of revenge in this subculture, to get back at the society that has denied them status, for example, joy-riding, vandalismRead MoreAnomie and General Strain Theories of Crime Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesStrain Theory Albert Cohen developed his own version of the Anomie Strain Theory using Merton’s framework to explain the delinquent subculture of lower-class males. Cohen argues that strain results from the failure to achieve status rather than the failure to achieve monetary success. (Paternoster, Bachman 2001) Cohen identified this male lower class as this â€Å"delinquent subculture†. Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin also expanded Merton’s anomie strain theory to develop their own version â€Å"In their bookRead MoreThe Cultural Theory Of Crime And Violence1515 Words   |  7 PagesDefined, a subculture is a culture that exists within the main dominant culture of a society. Therefore, members of a subculture will have different norms and values to those in the rest of society, which in turn could lead to them being seen as deviant because of this. Youth subcultures provide members with an identity that sits outside of that assigned by social foundations such as family, school, home and work. Participants of a subculture often make people aware of their membership by making

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.