Structural Explanations for Delinquency

Defining Structural Theories

• Characteristic features of structural theories– Focus on rates of crime rather than why individuals

commit crime

– Crime rates are explained in terms of the structural features of society

• Two broad types of structural theories– Strain Theory– Cultural Deviance Theory

Structural Theories I:

Strain Theory

Strain Theory

Delinquency Economic Inequality

Historical Foundation of Strain Theory

The Legacy of Emile Durkheim

• Two themes dominate Durkheim’s work on crime

– The normality of crime

– Crime and anomie

Robert Merton

• Robert King Merton is one of the most influential sociologists in the field of criminology

• At age 27, (1938) he wrote a definitive article entitled “Social Structure and Anomie”

• This article still serves as an anchor in our understanding of delinquency

Social Structure and Anomie

Goals Means

Conformist + +Innovator + -Ritualist - +Retreatist - -Rebel -/+ -/+

Merton’s theory of “anomie” stressed two structural conditions:

The interaction of these conditions produce five adaptive responses:

Differential Opportunity Theory

• This theory was developed by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin

• Agree with Merton that not everyone has equal access to social rewards, producing strain

• However, suggest that there is also an “illegitimate” opportunity structure with differential opportunities there as well.

• Failure to succeed in either the legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structure results in “double failure.”Lloyd Ohlin

Differential Opportunity’s Three Subcultural Responses

• Criminal Subculture– Occurs in neighborhoods where there are adult criminal role

models

– Here, the delinquent youth succeeds in the illegitimate opportunity structure

• Conflict Subculture– Adult role models are not available for successful crime

– Delinquent youth becomes angry and engages in violent crime

• Retreatist Subculture– Adult role models are not available for successful crime

– Rather than angry retaliation, the youth withdraws or retreats, typically into a world of drug use.

Cohen’s Subcultural Strain Theory

• Cohen suggests that one of the central problems in life is conforming to social expectations.

• Since these expectations are largely determined by the middle class, Cohen calls these “middle class measuring rods.”

• The lower class has a much more difficult time in conformity than the middle class.

• For lower class youth, the context for this difficulty is typically the school.

• Lower class youth are confronted by “status frustration,” and turn to other youth for solutions.

• For Cohen, this is the genesis of the delinquent gang.

Cohen’s Adaptive Responses to Status Frustration

• Corner Boy Response– Youth psychologically disengages from MC goals and accepts more humble

goals

– This is the most common lower class response

• College Boy Response– Lower class youth accepts the MC challenge and competes for MC goals

– Involves a rupture in his relationship with LC friends, a cost

• Delinquent Subculture Response– Involves a direct repudiation of MC values in the form of delinquency

– Characteristics of the delinquent subculture• Non-utilitarian

• Malicious

• Negativistic