Deviance

Chapter 3

1. Why sociologists believe crime is socially caused 3

2. Socialization into Deviant Cultures: Sutherland’s

Theory of Differential Association. 4
Evaluation of Differential Association Theory 10
Alternative explanations 32

3. Origins of Deviant Norms and Subcultures: 36

Cohen’s Theory of Delinquent Gangs
Description of Delinquent Subcultures 38
Description of Cohen’s Theory 41
Status Problems and Self Esteem 47
Female Delinquency 53
Middle Class Male Gang Delinquency 57
Evaluation of Cohen’s Theory 60
Alternative Explanations to Cohen’s Theory 68
Comparison between Sutherland and Cohen 81

4. Societal Pressures Toward Deviant Behavior:

Merton’s Theory of Anomie 83
Evaluation of Merton’s Theory 94

5. Comparison of Merton to Sutherland and Cohen 108

6. Responses to Pressures Toward Deviance:

Opportunity Structure 109
Cloward-Ohlin’s Theory Differential Opportunity 109
Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory 116

7. Integrating Merton, Sutherland, Cohen,

and Cloward and Ohlin 117

Chapter 3
 Functional Theories of Crime and Delinquency

The first two chapters clarified concepts and delineated issues in the study of deviance.

Examination revealed several distinctive perspectives for studying deviance differing in their

conception of what constituted "deviance" and in what was regarded as problematical: that

is, which facts about deviance the perspective is concerned with explaining. Perspectives

influenced the problems the sociologists studied and the manner in which they investigated

those problems. Perspectives also influence what is likely to be observed by the investigator

since each perspective is lodged in a different theoretical framework which embraces a

different "world view" concerning the nature of reality, what constitutes explanation, and the

nature of social life and people. Paradigms also tend to be tied to particular research

methodologies. And because the research method employed by a sociologist has a lot to do

with the types of findings which are possible to obtain in a study, this is likely to generate

self-confirming findings whereby the underlying world views are rarely challenged.

Therefore, underlying worldviews are continually sustained by the type of research they tend

to elicit. Thus there is a tendency to be "trapped" within a particular paradigm. The

paradigms also varied in their levels of analysis of social data, from traditional functional

macro-analysis to the social psychologically oriented micro-analysis of symbolic

interactionism.

The shape of sociological thought about deviance was molded to a considerable degree

by the specific "middle range" theories that emerged. These theories, however, did not evolve

in an orderly fashion, nor were they systematically derived from the underlying paradigms.

This is not surprising in view of the inadequate articulation the paradigms have received

within sociology. Consequently, determining the precise relationship between a particular

theory and its underlying paradigm is not always possible.

Deviance theory is also characterized by an array of different types of theories, dealing

with different facets of the process of deviance, and concerned with different types of deviant

behavior. The theories have emerged in a spotty and irregular fashion throughout the field,

with little specification or even at times reference to one another. Theories, as contrasted with

more encompassing paradigms, tend to be limited in their focus to specific behavior patterns

such as crime, delinquency, suicide or mental illness. Many theories, due to their lack of rigor

and systematic development, tend to cross-cut different paradigms. As a result, the theories

cannot always be neatly classified into one or another paradigm. While this is not by itself a

fault in the theory, it frequently creates ambiguity in the interpretation of it, as its underlying

assumptions and presuppositions are rarely spelled out in detail in the main body of the

theory. This renders the theory, at best, difficult to test.

It is to these middle range theories that our attention will be turned in the next few

chapters. Several widely held and currently important theories will be examined in some

detail. Inter-relationships between the theories will also be explored. Each theory will be

treated as a way of coping with some problem or issue left unexplored by other theories. The

order of presentation of the theories is, of course, arbitrary, since there are many possible ways

of relating the theories to one another. It is hoped a synthesis of these theories into a few

general frameworks or paradigms will occur. Convergences in sociological thought, whether

intended or not, can already be identified in the works of a number of sociologists. Equally

apparent are the conflicts that also exist within the field, which hopefully, can be sharpened by

such analyses. It is also hoped that areas that have not yet been examined will loom clear, and

vacuums, which need to be filled will be made more apparent, as will the new questions that

need to be asked.

This chapter will examine the theories of: Sutherland (1938), Cohen (1955). Merton

(1938), and Cloward and Ohlin (1960). Alternative theories and modifications of the more

central theories will be cursorily examined. Generally, these theories tend to reflect the

concerns embodied in the more traditional functional perspective, though as suggested earlier,

there is some overlapping of perspectives by some of the theories and considerable ambiguity
with respect to many of the paradigmatic issues in others of the theories. These theories

reflect functionalism in that they view deviance as norm violating behavior and seek to

identify the social causes of the norm violating behavior. Most of the theories discussed in this

chapter had their origin in the field of criminology and delinquency.

WHY SOCIOLOGISTS BELIEVE CRIME IS SOCIALLY CAUSED:

Sociologists believe the roots of crime are to be found in the character of the society in

which individuals are found. This is because certain crimes are common place in some

societies and virtually absent in others. Criminal behavior, like all cultural traits, appears to

be differentially distributed across societies. Similar to language patterns, individuals will not

manifest them if they are not exposed to them. Secondly, criminal patterns are also not

distributed randomly within a given society, suggesting the positions of individuals within

their society are strongly related to criminal behavior. This variability across and within

societies suggests a strong social component of crime. Third, crime rates change as patterns of

social organization or economic realities change. Fourth, what is criminal in one society may

be perfectly acceptable in another or in that same society at a different point in time. This

cultural relativity of crime demonstrates the central role of society in defining what is

regarded as crime. Various criminologists have set forth an array of divergent theories

identifying a variety of social factors entwined in criminal behavior.

The following theories have in common, as part of the functional perspective, a

conception of deviance as norm violating behavior, and a concern with identifying the social

factors, which contribute to or create the deviant behavior. These functional theories do not

generally examine the consequences of deviance on society.

SOCIALIZATION INTO DEVIANT CULTURE:

A THEORY OF CULTURAL TRANSMISSION

 Sutherland's Theory of Differential Association

In 1938, Edwin H. Sutherland, regarded by many as the father of modern criminology,

proposed a general theory designed to account for not only for a wide range of criminal

behavior, but non-criminal behavior as well. Sutherland's theory has had an important

impact on the study of deviant behavior. It has been incorporated into both the "functional"

and "interactionist" perspectives. Its categorization as a "functional" perspective rests on

Sutherland's viewing crime as a violation of criminal law and his efforts to identify the social

causes of criminal behavior. The formulation of the theory can be found in his pioneering

textbook that dominated the field for fifty years, "Principles of Criminology" (1938) and was

continually elucidated by Donald R. Cressey (Sutherland and Cressey 1992) a leading

proponent of the theory.

Sutherland's theory was a reaction to accepted theories of the time, which located the

causes of crime in either biological or psychological abnormalities within the individual. The

pre-supposition that criminals are essentially different from non-criminals remains popular

today. Sutherland, however, saw a strong social component to law violating behavior, and

focused his theory upon what he regarded as the salient social factors in criminal behavior.

His theory also addressed the question of why in areas of high crime rates, only some

individuals rather than others engage in criminal behavior. Social disorganization theory did

not address why all individuals in disorganized areas didn’t engage in criminal behavior.

His theory focused upon cultural aspects of criminal behavior. He viewed crime

basically as a result of cultural conflict betwf1een norms. All social behavior is normatively

regulated including crime. Crime is the result of some group’s norms conflicting with the laws

of the larger society. The main body of the theory, however, focused on the individual's

acquisition of criminal patterns of behavior and is described as a cultural transmission theory.

It is fundamentally, at its core, a social learning theory. Socialization is therefore responsible

for both conformity and deviance in society.

Sutherland followed a tradition pioneered by Gabriel Tarde (1903) who proposed a

theory of "imitation" to account for the acquisition of criminal behavior. Elements of Tarde’s

theory included: learning which was dominated by example, a period of apprenticeship in

professional crime, imitation occurring in proportion to which persons were in close contact

with one another, and inferiors imitating superiors. Tarde’s “emphasis on the social origins of

crime had a lasting effect, but his oversimplification of the causes of crime led most

sociologists to reject his theory (Reid, 1979:229)”. Sutherland’s theory differed from Tarde’s

because it took into account not only imitation but all other process of learning (Sutherland

1956:22).

Objectives of Sutherland's Theory:

Sutherland's theory was specifically designed to explain: (a) why criminal behavior

was manifest in particular individual's conduct and not in others, and (b) the manner in

which criminal behavior patterns were acquired. His early formulations also laid claim to (c)

explaining group criminality, but his theory never developed an adequate explanation for the

differences in rates or patterns of criminality between groups. Sutherland merely assumed the

behavior existed before it was made illegal, and that groups exhibited differential organization

for or against crime and proceeded to develop his theory from these assumptions.

Description of the Theory:

Sutherland developed his theory during a time when there was considerable interest in

learning theory, and psychologists such as Hull (1943), Miller and Dollard (1941), and others

were attracting worldwide attention. The concepts of reward, reinforcement, cue and

response were being bantered about, and Sutherland too was influenced by the currency of

these concepts.

His theory could be described as basically a social learning theory, and was broken

down into nine component propositions:

1. Criminal behavior is learned not inherited. This was a reaction against the idea
that crooks are born crooks. Sutherland argues that a person who is not trained in
crime will not invent it.
 2. Criminal behavior is learned in social interaction with other persons through
the process of communication.

3. Most learning occurs within intimate personal groups. Sutherland believed

the media play only a small part in the learning process. The roots of crime must
be sought in the socializing experiences of the individual.

4. The content of the learning includes: (a) the techniques of crime, (b) the direction in
which motives and drives are expressed, and (c) the rationalizations and attitudes
which justify criminal behavior.

The professional thief needs many skills to be a successful thief and acquiring the
techniques and skills requires personal association with people who have such
knowledge.

Learning also occurs in an indirect fashion such as exposure to parental attitudes

which reflect indifference or encouragement to law breaking behavior.

5. The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from a definition of legal
codes as "favorable" or "unfavorable" to law violating behavior. The individual
may be surrounded by individuals who define legal codes as rules to be observed
and upheld. It may also be possible to identify sub-groups in the community with
different values which lead individuals to commit crimes. A belief that "only
suckers work" would exemplify such an orientation.

6. A person becomes delinquent or criminal because of an "excess" of definitions

favorable to the violation of the law over the definitions unfavorable to the
violation of the law. This key proposition is the principle of differential
association. It emphasizes the relative balance of exposure to law conforming
versus law violating definitions of the situation.

7. The importance of the particular association will vary with its frequency, duration,
intensity, and priority.

8. The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and

anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any
other learning.

9. Though criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not

explained by those general needs and values since non-criminal behavior is an
expression of the same needs and values.

Thus Sutherland proposes crime is learned. His theory deals with: (a) where it is

learned--within intimate groups, (b) how it is learned--through communication in association

with others, (c) what is learned--techniques, direction of motives through definitions of the

situation favorable to law violating behavior, and rationalizations which justify crime, (d) who

will learn crime--anyone exposed to law violating definitions, and (e) when crime will be

learned --when an excess of definitions favorable to law violating behavior occurs.

Sutherland is less precise when it comes to the specific situation, form and times when

criminal behavior will take place.

Sutherland's theory locates the roots of criminality in the character of the individual's

associations in the community. Both contact with criminal patterns and isolation from

anti- criminal patterns are essential. The theory opposes an individualistic view of the causes of

crime by placing emphasis on the social aspects of the learning process and the content of the

learning. If individuals learned crime on their own through invention and experimentation,

criminal behavior would be idiosyncratic and uniquely related to each individual's particular

experience. Instead, common repetitive patterns in criminal behavior, such as safecracking,

bank-robbing, pick-pocketing, drunk-rolling, etc. can be observed. Furthermore, certain

crimes are commonplace in one society and virtually unknown in another. An individual

raised in a society where "running amuck" is unknown is highly unlikely to engage in that

behavior as they would be to speak a language to which they had never been exposed. This is

why it is described as a social learning theory rather than trial and error based on the

individuals experience. Repetitive patterns in language exist, because they are socially

acquired; few invent the language they speak. So it is with crime, patterns can be observed

because they are socially acquired and part of the culture.

Sutherland's theory states that one becomes a criminal by associating with other

criminals or with persons who uphold definitions favorable to criminal behavior. Thus

according to the theory, the primary process involved in the creation of criminals is that of

socialization. The importance of learning crime is the same as learning non-criminal behavior

patterns such as language, custom, and dress. The process of learning criminal and

non-criminal patterns of behavior is identical--only the content of what individuals learn

differs!

Persons who break the law have the same social needs or motives as those who

conform. Both the criminal and the honest person value wealth, status, power or affection.

The difference in their behavior results from their having learned to satisfy those needs in

different ways. Therefore, one would not expect criminals and non-criminals to represent

different personality types. A search for the criminal "mind" or "type," therefore, will be in

vain. The only difference between the criminal and non-criminal is to be found in the types of

activities sanctioned by their respective groups. Favorable definitions of criminal behavior are

usually believed confined to specific illegal acts more than a general disobedience to all law.

An embezzler, for example, may be as strongly opposed to murder, as conventional attitudes

require.

The particular reasons why an individual forms crimogenic associations are outside the

purview of Sutherland's theory. Many reasons, of course, can be cited why such associations

exist: individuals can be born into a family where criminal patterns exist, they can be raised in

an area where there is close proximity to such patterns, or they can be conscripted into a

delinquent gang against their desires. The specific reason for the associations need not

concern Sutherland as the individual's associations are determined by the general context or

social organization. His theory asserts that once the criminal associations occur, for whatever

reason, they are sufficient to induce criminal patterns of behavior when they predominate

over other associations.

Thus focus of Sutherland's theory is why and how a person becomes a criminal. His

answer is from an over abundance of definitions favorable to law violating behavior. One

becomes a criminal in the same way one becomes a doctor, lawyer or engineer--through the

process of learning social roles. The making of both a criminal and doctor involve the same

variables of frequency, duration, intensity, and priority of the association or socializing

relationships--only the content of what they learn differs. Sutherland's theory attempts to

account for crime as an occupation, which involves the acquisition of professional skills and a
professional ideology, but his theory is not limited to the professional criminal and has

applicability to the non-habitual offender as well. Both the pervasiveness of the criminal

behavior and the specific pattern of the criminal behavior are related to the individual's

associations. The importance of indirect learning of general attitudes toward law violating

behavior, as well as the acquisition of specific techniques of law violating behavior, is given

importance in the theory. Criminal definitions of the situation can be acquired from persons

who are not professional criminals or even law-breakers themselves.

Criminality therefore, is a result of participation in a cultural tradition. In brief, the

theory argues that: "persons learn criminal attitudes and behavior through a process of

differential association or interaction with carriers of criminal culture" (Gibbons, 1968:8)

Consequences of the theory for the control of deviance:

The theory, though chiefly concerned with conditions which generate criminality, has

consequences for the control of crime. Rehabilitation of deviants would require

"resocialization". Any change desired would require an alteration in the character of the

individual's associations to tip the balance toward a preponderance of associations with

definitions, which support unfavorable definitions of law violating behavior. Putting criminals

in jail would have the opposite effect of increasing criminal orientations by isolating the

individual from associations with anti-criminal definitions and restricting the individual's

associations to other criminals who would be likely to support criminal definitions. The length

of time required for the change would depend upon such facts as the number of prior

associations, the intensity and duration of those associations. Prevention of crime would

require isolation from crimogenic associations. Given the conditions of current prisons, they

maximize the conditions for continued criminality. Prisons today can be regarded as factories

for producing criminals.

Evaluation of Differential Association Theory:

This section critically evaluates Sutherland's' theory in three areas: (A) the logical

consistency or adequacy of the theory, (B) the testability of the theory, and (C) empirical
support for the theory.

A) Logical consistency and adequacy o£ the theory: The theory is rather general,

somewhat vague, and imprecise in its formulations, and fails to be explicit about many points.

For example, it lacks detail in specifying variables, which designate with precision why a given

form of criminal behavior ensues1.

Likewise, the theory is not precise as to what constitutes a "favorable" or

"unfavorable" definition of law violating behavior. It is left to common sense and therefore

not clear-cut. While there may be agreement on extreme examples of favorable or unfavorable

definitions of law violating behavior, there may also be considerable disagreement in the

middle range, were events are subject to interpretation. Both the conceptual and operational

definition of an "unfavorable" definition, and other concepts used by Sutherland need further

specification. The theory also fails to make explicit what constitutes an "excess" of favorable

definitions. Does a 51/49 or 99/1 ratio constitute sufficient excess? Obviously it is a question

only future research can answer. Furthermore, other concepts like "intensity" are common

sense concepts and need to be specified more rigorously and operationalized. How also does

one determine the relative importance of the frequency, duration, intensity and priority of the

association in computing the overall ratio? How would the relative weights be assigned to

each factor in determining the final ratio? For instance, if earlier definitions influence later

ones, then priority needs to be taken into account with respect to the frequency or duration of

a specific subsequent association. There also may be "interaction effects" between the

variables of frequency, duration, intensity and priority. Again only further research can

resolve these issues.

Thus many of the concepts are unclear or ambiguous, phrased in common sense

terms, not operationalized for translation into specific measurement procedures, and need

serious attention before rigorous research can be undertaken. Other questions require further

research before they could be answered.

B). Testability of the Theory: In principle, the theory is testable. Practically, however,
it is very difficult to test directly. Theoretically, all the person's prior associations would need

to be known, or at least those interactions related to the individual's definition of law violating

behavior. In addition, their frequency, duration, intensity, and priority would also have to be

known. Obviously, these are never completely available to us in a particular research study.

Approximations to these ideal conditions will be examined in specific studies conducted by

sociologists to test some of Sutherland's propositions.

C) Empirical Support of the Theory: Sutherland's theory is compatible with many

known facts about criminality. In fact, later versions of his textbook attempted to organize the

known facts in criminology with his propositions. Compatibility with the facts does not

constitute proof of a theory. Research has generally supported Sutherland’s theory.

1. Personality Studies: Indirect support for Sutherland's theory, cited by his

supporters, is to be found in studies investigating the relationship between personality and

delinquency. A review of these studies showed no single trait to be more characteristic of

delinquents than non-delinquents2. They argue that this is to be expected on the basis of

Sutherland's theory since the theory states that criminal behavior is an expression of the same

general needs, personalities, and values as non-criminal behavior.

2. Case Studies: Case studies and biographies of criminals are also often cited as

providing support for Sutherland's theory. In these biographies specific criminal associations

are illustrated in rich detail, which seem to be self-evident support for the theory. However,

the conclusions reached in the analysis of such case studies do not always seem warranted

since the methodological limitations of such studies are never carefully examined. For

example, the studies never carefully sample the range of associations of the individual or the

consequences of indirect socialization, nor do they establish that an "excess" of such

definitions existed. Furthermore, the individual's biography is usually reconstructed

retrospectively from knowledge that the individual ended up a "criminal". Had their life

turned out differently, perhaps different events would be recollected or the same events given

a different emphasis or interpretation. A more serious problem is that no systematic attempts

were made to collect biographies of persons who were exposed to excessive criminal

associations, but who did not manifest criminal behavior. Therefore, such studies can only be

used as illustrations of his theory and not as tests of the theory.

Specific case studies have been undertaken to test Sutherland's theory more directly.

Four studies of "black marketers" (Clinard:1952), check forgers (Lemert:1953), embezzlers

(Cressey:1953) and shoplifters (Cameron:1964) are frequently cited as studies which fail to

support Sutherland's theory in that the studies indicated that these activities were not learned

in association with others who practiced them. However, supporters argue the studies do not

directly refute the theory since not state that criminal patterns must be specifically acquired

from persons who practice them. All that is required is that one be exposed to criminal

attitudes without necessarily being exposed to criminals. The theory requires only that an

individual be exposed to an excess of definitions that support such behavior. However, since a

major emphasis of the theory is on the acquisition of techniques and rationalizations for the

criminal behavior, it does raise serious questions about the theory. This is an example of how

his theory fails to specify in detail why law-violating behavior takes a specific direction, and

thereby makes the theory difficult to test by any such data.

3. Survey Research Studies: Other studies utilizing survey research techniques have

attempted to test aspects of Sutherland's theory more rigorously. Several studies have

attempted to demonstrate the similarities in criminal behavior among persons who associate

with one another, regarding this as a test of Sutherland's theory. Short, in a series of studies

(1957, 1968), investigated the hypothesis that "delinquents have delinquent associates." In

studies of adolescents, both in and out of correctional institutions, he examined the relation-

ship between the extent of an individual's criminal behavior, based on his self-reports, and

that of his associates, based on the subjects' report of his associate's criminal behavior. In all

three studies Short found support for the hypothesis.

There were, however, several serious limitations in Short's studies. First, it assumed

peer influence was primary and ignored parental and other associations. Second, as cross
sectional studies, the direction of the relationship could not be specified since it is possible that

persons who are already delinquent seek each other out as friends (Gleucks: 1950:164). Thus

the association may be the consequence of their delinquency and not the cause of it. Third,

even though a relationship between associations and delinquency is obtained, since the

learning process was not studied, the relationship may have occurred for other reasons than

learning criminal definitions of the situation, such as friends having similar opportunities,

attempting to compete with one another for reputation, etc. Fourth, reliability and validity of

self-reported criminality needs to be examined more rigorously. Fifth, the study depends upon

the individual's report of the criminal behavior of his associates, and we have no way of

assessing its validity. Persons who engage in excessive criminal behavior may also exaggerate

the criminal behavior of others. Sixth, the process of reporting on memories of past

experiences of criminal behavior involves the individual's "retrospective reconstruction" of

their past, which may be strongly biased by their present circumstances. Having been labeled

"delinquent", the individual may selectively recall only experiences and associations that

sustain that definition. Never having been labeled delinquent might result in a different

reading of the past.

Voss (1964) replicated Short's earlier studies in another area of the United States and

also found support for the hypothesis, although his relationships were not as strong as those

obtained by Short. Both investigations revealed the variable of intensity to be most strongly

related and the priority of the relationship to be most weakly related to criminality in

associations.

Reiss and Rhodes (1964) examined the similarity of delinquent patterns among

friendship cliques and their findings showed partial support for Sutherland's theory in the

likelihood of a boy committing a delinquent act, but there was considerable diversity in the

types of delinquencies of boys in the same clique. Tittle (1980) Elliot, Ageton, and Huizenga

(1985), Cheung and Ng (1988) similarly found associations between peer associations and

delinquency but cite additional factors, besides learning delinquent codes, such as group
sanctions, role models, and friend's delinquency as more important than their attitudes,

opportunity, and group pressures. Warr and Stafford (1991), Jaquith (1981), Orcutt (1987),

Paternoster and Tiplett (1988), and Cheung and Ng (1988) found friend's behavior more

related to delinquency than either the friends’ or their own attitudes. Favorable definitions of

crime are influenced more by what others do in the learning process than attitudes which are

expressed or inferred.

Recent studies represent significant advances as intervening variables and causal

linkages are explored. Inconsistent findings have emerged with respect to the role of

internalized attitudes as the key transmission factor versus the friend’s actual behavior 3.

Perhaps a reason for these contradictions lies in Sutherland's inadequate grasp of Symbolic

Interactionism and his lack of emphasis on situational factors in crime.

However, even if these studies had failed to support the hypothesis, this could not be

construed as disproof of Sutherland since the theory does not specify that the carriers of the

criminal culture must themselves engage in the criminal behavior, merely that they define

such behavior as acceptable. Criminals may present respectable definitions of law violating

behavior to their children or associates. These studies can only provide partial tests since: (1)

they neglect non-criminal carriers of criminal culture, (2) they do not consider the total range

of an individual's associations to determine the relative balance of associations, (3) they do not

examine this processes longitudinally: peer groups may assume less importance over time, (4)

they don't explain what happens to learned definitions over time since crime declines with

age, (5) they do not test for causal order in the relationship since they are cross-sectional

rather than longitudinal studies, (6) they do not examine different types of crime, and (7) most

importantly, most do not study the mechanisms involved in the transmission of criminal

patterns.

Nonetheless, even though many of the studies have serious limitations as adequate tests

of Sutherland's formulations, there appears to be a growing body of research that is supports

Sutherland's theory but raises questions about the mechanisms involved in the transmission of
deviant patterns and suggests the theory is incomplete. Crucial tests of the theory remain

lacking.

4. Crimes Unexplained by the Theory; Limits of the Theory: There are other limitations

of the theory. Although proposed as a comprehensive theory some opponents have charged

that it is unable to account for certain types of crimes.

a. Impulsive crimes or acts of passion: Critics argue the theory is unable to account for

spontaneous crime or crimes of passion where it is difficult to trace any pre-existing

"definitions of the situation" that elicited the behavior. Though admittedly infrequent, cases

can be cited where so-called "model" children murder a playmate or a parent, much to the

shock and horror of all concerned. Crimes of emotion can result from a breakdown in

self-control, i.e., that process by which the individual monitors and censors behavior which

would be perceived as unacceptable to significant others. In those situations, individuals may

be unable to effectively restrain socially disapproved impulses, as they would ordinarily.

Sometimes these individuals can be overcome with so much remorse for their actions they

commit suicide.

However, sociologists should be wary of interpreting acts as purely impulsive or

spontaneous (Cressey:1954). Jealousy or passion are orchestrated by culture and situations of

losses of control may be more apparent than real. When a jealous husband shoots a man

found in bed with his wife, is this an impulsive act or is it a consequence of how that situation

is defined in that culture? An Eskimo would not be angered as sharing one's wife was

regarded as a hospitable act. How individuals respond to even excesses of alcohol or drugs is

not solely dependent on the breakdown or loss of self-control. There are social definitions

which regulate one's comportment under these conditions. These definitions can serve as a

license to act in particular ways, so that in some societies persons under the influence of

alcohol are loud and boisterous, while in other societies they are quiet and subdued

(Edgerton:1993). How individuals respond to finding their wife with another man is also a

function of how they are socialized to deal with rage and who are defined as legitimate targets
for their rage in that society. Murder might be defined as an appropriate response in some

cultures and men who failed to act would be ridiculed, as some forms of “honor killing”

suggest.

b. Contradictory Studies: Studies of embezzlers (Cressey, 1953), check forgers (Lemert,

1953), black marketers (Clinard:1952), and shop lifters (Cameron, 1964) have been cited as

challenging Sutherland’s theory. Cressey's (1953) analysis of embezzlers described them as

relatively law abiding in most respects, but who were in situations characterized by

"non-sharable" problems, which pushed them to extreme measures. Thus the criminal

behavior is a solution that was independently derived. Other criminal acts such as

pyromania, pedophilia, cannibalism, etc. may also challenge the theory. Civil rights leaders

brought up to respect law, may oppose and violate specific laws viewed as immoral and which

may result in their imprisonment. These, however, may be examples of culture conflict more

than exceptions to the theory.

c. Inadequate Socialization: Crime can result from the individual failing to develop

attitudes or skills necessary to sustain conforming behavior. For example, the lack of a

capacity to "take the role of the other" may impair psychopath's ability to feel empathy and

thus they fail to check their acts, as normally socialized persons might, out of concern for

others. This may also cause a weakened ability for self-control and impulsive behavior.

Gleuck (1956) charges stealing among children, sex play, etc are not learned but come

naturally, despite parental disapproval. The punishment and defining of the situation as

undesirable to the child, comes after the act of stealing and it may be difficult to identify those

definitions that elicited the original act. "It is non-delinquent behavior that is learned--law

abiding character is hard won processes (Gleuck:1956).”

The theory does not allow for the possibility that criminal actions can occur as a

consequence of inadequate socialization. Such a failure in socialization, rather than

socialization into criminal codes per se, may result in criminal behavior. While ignorance of

the law does not exempt an individual from criminal prosecution, it does create problem for
Sutherland's theory since neither, positive or negative definitions exist in such a situation.

d. Non-habitual offenders: Pattern Evasion: Opponents have incorrectly charged that

the theory was only applicable to professional criminals but not to non-habitual offenders.

They point to wide spread disobedience to laws by the general public labeled "pattern

evasion". Supporters argue these are consequences of culturally accepted patterns of

disobedience widely held in the population such as "everyone cheats on their income tax, only

suckers report their true income" and they are a perfect example of his theory. Studies of self

reported crime indicate fully 90% of the population engages in law violating behavior at one

or another time in their lives.

e. Unintended Crime: Laws of Strict Liability: A complicating factor in the theory is

that the "meanings" of acts are overlooked in that motives or intentions are not taken into

account. In most cases "criminal intent" is required for an individual's conviction. There are,

however, certain classes of laws, strict liability laws, where the commission of the act is

sufficient grounds for prosecution, irrespective of the "intention" or motivation of the

individual. Statutory rape or running a traffic light are examples of crimes in which

individuals can be prosecuted even if the acts were unintentional. A male who has sexual

relations with an under age girl can be charged with statutory rape even if the girl lied to him

about her true age. Thus a person could wind up in jail, defined as a criminal, even though he

had every intention of obeying the law, and acted on the basis of his learned definitions and

prior socialization. Financial crimes may also involve persons who were not aware of the

criminal nature of their acts. Their learned definitions of the situation with respect to

law-violating behavior may appear to be irrelevant to their criminal status.

f. Coerced criminal acts: The role of coercion in acts of forced criminality found in

prison or in gang threats or beatings is not explored by Sutherland but may be an example of

"forced to act" and "powerful reinforcers" that make others instantly "significant".

g. Emerging situations and crime: Periodic collective disturbances such as riots or

revolutions which result in widespread illegal behavior by citizens who are ordinarily law
abiding and who will return to law-abiding behavior after the incident is over, are cited as

challenging the theory. However, studies of collective behavior suggest these are not states of

anarchy but reflect emergent norms and new definitions of the situation which shape this

situationally specific behavior and would therefore be explained by the theory.

Supporters of the theory argue that because the theory does not explain all crime, it

does not invalidate the theory. What is needed is a more careful delimiting of the range of

applicability of the theory.

5. Ecological Studies of Crime: Also cited in support of Sutherland's theory are

empirical studies that show crime rates are related to ecological areas of the city. Certain

areas have high crime rates year after year (Shaw and McKay:1969). Children born into

those areas have high risks due to their exposure to already existing criminal definitions in the

area. In some areas delinquency rates run as high as 75%, and even the 25% of non-

delinquents can be explained as a result of lack of contact with delinquent carriers due to

parental control, rejection by the delinquent carriers, or social isolation.

Rates also remain high despite turnover of the population. Sutherland asserts that

criminal patterns become traditional in certain sectors and are passed on from group to

group, sometimes for generations in the same fashion as the residences they occupy.

Problems arise in the use of such examples to support Sutherland's theory, since in

some cases there might be little or no contact between the successive ethnic groups occupying

that particular area of the city. Therefore crime cannot result from passing on of these

traditions through cultural transmission.

Strain and conflict theorists assert that the persistence of high crime areas could be

better explained structurally, and arises from the social organization of the community.

Criminal patterns originate in poverty areas (the same for infant mortality, drug addiction,

alcoholism, etc) and result from the economic and social conditions in those areas. The

disenfranchisement of the poor and minority groups who reside in those areas gives rise to

criminal patterns as a response to their disadvantaged position in society. Thus successive

waves of immigrants in those sectors of the city manifest criminal patterns as a result of their

similar structural position in society. They are responding alike due to their similar social

conditions and position in the social structure more than they are shaped by socialization and

cultural transmission. The problem is structural and arises from the social organization of the

community rather than cultural transmission. Thus they offer an alternative explanation to

Sutherland's theory of the same facts.

Studies of migration show that early in the settlement period, the initial rates of crime

reflect the area from which the migrants came. Over time, as assimilation occurs, the rates of

crime come to reflect the area in which they reside. As immigrants are absorbed into the

society and become upwardly mobile and move into new residential areas, their crime rates

come to reflect those with whom they currently reside and with whom they are currently

interacting. The rate at which assimilation occurs is reflected in rates of inter-marriage or

changes in customs or language patterns. These rates would also be related to the speed with

which crime rates change.

These findings, while generally supportive of Sutherland's theory, also raise some

questions about the theory. Crime rates that change with migration raise the question of

whether the sum of the individual's total past associations is more important than their

current associations in the area they now reside? The present situational context of the

individual may prove to be the critical factor not the cumulative sum of past-learned

definitions. Secondly, these studies do not demonstrate the mechanism of learning definitions

of the situation as the critical factor in the process of cultural transmission. The theory also

fails to explain why criminal traditions are more commonly found in certain sectors of the city.

Alternatively, structuralists argue that crime decreases because individuals are now

removed from those structural conditions that precipitated it.

6. Applied Studies: Andrews (1980) in a series of experimental studies modifying

criminal behavior found: (a) criminal attitudes could be modified by social interaction, (b)

attitude changes were related to the quality of the relationships with group facilitators, and (c)
attitude changes were related to subsequent criminal behavior supporting three major

hypothesis of the theory. Whether eight weeks of interactions would be sufficient to create an

excess of definitions or were relationships with group facilitators intense, raise further

questions with these studies.

Summary of Empirical Support: Despite the limitations of the studies as adequate tests

of the theory there is an increasing body of research generally supportive of the theory. Its

confirmation status is that (a) numerous studies provide weak to moderate support for the

theory, (b) increasing amounts of variance are accounted for, and (c) some findings are

inconsistent with the theory and other studies serve to define its limits. However most studies

do not examine the process by which criminal behaviors are acquired. Longitudinal studies

are required to adequately test the theory.

Other Shortcomings of Sutherland’s Theory

An Inadequate and Overly Simplistic Learning Theory:

Closer scrutiny of the theory and its related research suggests several problems still

remain. An important limitation was Sutherland's failure to address the underling learning

process as he assumed the mechanisms of learning made no difference to the theory. In light of

this deficiency, Glaser (1956), Burgess and Akers (1966) and Akers (1973,1985) have

attempted to fill this important gap in the theory by modifying the theory along the lines of a

"reinforcement" learning theory.

Sutherland's failure to specify the underlying learning process creates ambiguity and

room for conflicting interpretations or predictions of the theory. Considering the enormous

developments in learning theory during the past fifty years and the complexity of the issues

that have arisen, it is difficult to fault Sutherland for failing to specify precisely the variables

and process involved in learning. Nonetheless, it matters which particular learning theory he

would base his theory on. It would have ramifications for what specifically is learned by the

individual in a situation, from whom, how it is learned and how it is related to subsequent

behavior.
A Shift from Intimates to Role Models:

Glaser’s “differential identification” theory: A direction taken by Glaser (1956) to fill

this void was to re-interpret Sutherland's theory in terms of "reference group", role theory,

and "differential identification". He modified: (a) the content of what was learned from

"definition of a situation" to identification, and (b) who was influential in the learning

process--from intimates to role models. He de-emphasized intimate social relationships and

emphasized reference groups, role models and the media4. Research on the impact of

watching television on aggression (Pearl, Bouthilet, and Lazar:1982) might change

Sutherland's emphasis. Association alone is harmless unless identification occurs. Glaser's

hypothesis states that: "a person pursues criminal behavior to the extent he identifies with

real or imaginary persons from whose perspectives his criminal behavior seems acceptable."

This interpretation implies an intervening process in the generalization of learned behavior

not explicated by either Sutherland's use of "definition of the situation" or in reinforcement

theory.

A Shift From "Definition of Situations" to "Expectations and Opportunities"

Glaser (1978) broadened his approach by focusing on “expectations” rather than

“definitions of situations” as these are more likely to determine conduct. The theory was

reconfigured into "differential expectations" determined by (1) pro and anti criminal social

bonds where rewards and punishments others could impose shaped their importance for the

individual, (2) differential learning of tastes, skills, or rationalizations about what to expect

from crime, and (3) perceived opportunities. Crime is a result of the "expectations of

gratification" as a result of different bonds, different learning and different perceptions of

opportunity. When expectations of gratification exceed unfavorable anticipations, crime will

result. He incorporates utilitarian/rational choice, learning, strain and opportunity theory

and focuses on situational determinants of criminal behavior. Introducing expectations makes

the theory more situationally specific than Sutherland envisioned.

A Shift From "What Individuals Are Exposed To" to "the Consequences and Reinforcements
of Actions": Burgess and Akers Differential Reinforcement Theory

Burgess and Akers (1966) and Akers (1985) further modified the theory to include

aspects of operant conditioning by focusing on the reinforcing aspects of the environment on

the consequences of action. Behavior is shaped by the consequences of our actions. What

happens to people influences our expectancies of rewards and punishments. What is

important is not merely the “presentation” of a particular definition to the individual, but the

“reinforcement” the individual receives with respect to acting upon that definition of the

situation. Sutherland's main concern was in the social situation in which the learning

occurred and not in the mechanisms of the learning process per se, failing to recognize that the

process of learning has something to do with the content of what is learned, in addition to

whether a significant other expresses favorable or unfavorable reactions to the law.

The degree to which others control significant reinforcers in a situation is a critical

variable in the influence process of social interaction. Sutherland may have had this

somewhat in mind in his concern with the intensity of the relationship. But the existence of

significant sanctions in the hands of persons with whom we may not have intense

relationships, such as the police, may be an important factor in the learning process. Whether

the learning occurs primarily through positive reinforcements or negative sanctions, or in

various combinations, the schedule of reinforcement, and other contingencies are critical to

the learning process, but are not considered by Sutherland. The outcome of the individual

criminal act, irrespective of association patterns, in terms of rewards or punishments, which

may follow from the commission of the act, are critical events in the learning process and

shape the character of what is learned. People engage in crime because it has been more

rewarded than alternative behavior. The extent to which others, including non-intimates like

the police, control reinforcers, will influence behavior. Sutherland does not deal with these

factors, nor are their possible implications for modifying the theory clearly spelled out by

revisionists of Sutherland's theory5.

Other Aspects of the Learning Process:

 In addition to the lack of specification of the process of learning, Sutherland has been

criticized for not adequately taking into account "response" or "acceptance" patterns

(Cressey 1962). The theory emphasizes the process of "exposure", but ignores differences in

receptivity of individuals to particular definitions, assuming these differences are nothing

more than products of prior associations. Yet objectively similar situations vary in

individual's perception or interpretation of them. This is why Sutherland did not emphasize

social structure since people respond to the "meaning" that structures such as class have for

them. How the individual interprets or applies what others express to their existing

understandings, and consequently, its later effect on their behavior needs to be explored

subjectively. Sutherland was aware of this problem (Cohen et al, 1965:30-41) and believed

that his hypothesis would have to be modified to incorporate this as part of the

person-situation complex. In "The Swan Song of Differential Association" (1973;30-41), he

explored the role of the intensity of the need of the individual as related to their receptivity to

criminal definitions, but he never resolved this issue in the theory. Certainly drug related

crime would force a re-examination of the role of "need" in criminal behavior.

Sutherland's Flawed Symbolic Interactionism:

Sutherland oversimplifies the learning process which is much more complex than his

theory indicates, and ignores the problem of the relationship between "what is learned" and

"how persons act" in particular situations. The relation between internally held definitions

and actual behavior in situations has not been adequately studied in its complexity.

Though Sutherland's theory is often regarded as an example of symbolic

interactionism, it based on a psychological and mechanistic model of learning. Functionalists

have not examined in detail the process by which socialization takes place. Labeling theorists

have devoted more time, but not so much on the processes involved. The model of learning

implied in the theory of Differential Association focuses on the relative proportion of

associations that support law-violating behavior over those which oppose it. Even though the
theory recognizes that each association may not carry equal weight, and considers such

variables as priority, duration, and intensity (as frequency is taken into account in the overall

ratio) of the associations, the final ratio would merely be a weighted average. What

Sutherland proposes is an additive model of learning, where the outcome of behavior is a

consequence of the overall sum of associations.

A Mechanistic Model of Human Behavior: There is underlying Sutherland's analysis,

from the perspective of symbolic interactionism, an overly simplistic conception of human

behavior. The theory assumes people learn and mirror directly what they have been exposed

to in their associations, an assumption many functionalists implicitly make. That they

automatically act upon these learned definitions to which they have been exposed in the past,

that it is easy to tell how a person will define a situation in any particular context, and there is

a one to one correspondence between what an individual has learned in the past and how they

act in a specific context.

Mechanistic Learning Versus Interpretative Behavior: Functionalism versus Symbolic

Interactionism:

Contrasted with this mechanistic or psychological conception of learning, where there

is a one to one correspondence between what people have learned in the past and how they

will act in a specific context, are the complex questions of "how do people interpret or make

sense out of what they are exposed to, how do they come to define the application of what they

have learned to any particular situation and define it in the appropriate context of specific

action, and how is reality constructed socially in any particular context?" Individuals are

never exposed to objective situations; they are continually interpreting what they are exposed

to. Symbolic interactionists are quick to point out that the way an individual defines a

particular situation is not just a function of what they have learned in prior situations, but

that situational contingencies shape considerably how persons will define a situation and

whether certain behavior will take place within that context. Behavior is viewed as

"constructed" out of the exigencies of the situation, the joint give and take of interaction, the
perspectives of others, and emergent properties of the interaction. What persons do and how

they come to define the situation emerges out of the joint and negotiated definitions of the

situation, rather than simply mechanically applying past learned definitions. Such definitions

of the situation are merely one element out of which social action is constructed.

For example, past definitions can easily be superseded by current situational

expectations. It is possible to cite examples of action where emergent properties or courses of

action not extant in the prior repertoire of the individuals arose (Cohen, 1955:49-72).

Through a process of mutual conversion arising out of interaction, new definitions of the

situation can arise. In such instances, the situational pressures, as in the case of a lynch mob,

may be so strong as to influence the individual's behavior irrespective of their past

associations or definitions of the situation. The literature of social psychology is replete with

studies of group influences on individual perceptions and behavior dating back to the early

experiments of Ash (1951), Sherrif (1935) to more recent experiments of Milgram (1963) and

Zimbardo (1972). Milgram's study showed that definitions such as "hurting others" could

clash with definitions that suggest "obedience is the proper response to authority".

Individual's moral beliefs were unrelated to their response. The presence of the investigator,

the remoteness of the subject, the presence of dissenters all influenced the response, thus

indicating the importance of the situational context. Riesman, Glazer and Denney’s (1950)

depiction of Americans as "other directed" underscores their extreme sensitivity to other's

expectations as contrasted with "inner directed" persons who internalize rigid guides to

behavior in situations indicate important cultural differences in the influence of others.

Zimbardo (1973) showed how perspectives of guards and inmates evolved in situations as

"emergent" properties. Much of this conflict is reflected in the difference between the

functional and symbolic interactionist paradigms, which Sutherland straddles.

Thus as criminal definitions of situations emerge, in whatever context, and irrespective

of the types of prior associations, individuals sensitive to the expectations of others are

strongly influenced by these new and emergent standards. It is doubtful that soldiers who
took part in the MiLy massacre or torture in Iraq were brought up with beliefs that

murdering defenseless women and children was acceptable or moral. In understanding the

behavior of an acting mob, the emergent definitions, which are reinforced by rapid

interaction, can result in a redefinition of the situation, which sweeps individuals along in a

line of action that would ordinarily not be contemplated by a person acting alone. Korn and

McCorkle's (1959:Ch 14) study of "Reluctant Robbers" showed how adolescents were

influenced by what each perceived (incorrectly) what other's expected, and how this shared

misunderstanding caused criminal behavior underscoring the importance of the "interpretive

processes" in social behavior.

Sutherland's conception of the learning process and the role of definitions of the

situation reflects a more deterministic conception of individuals as actors which more

compatible with the functional paradigm than symbolic interactionism. Sutherland's model

views predispositions to act as something inside the actor's head as a consequence of prior

socialization, and that, individuals merely act out these learned pre-scribed scripts. Thus

Sutherland also locates the immediate cause of crime as something that exists within the

individual, which is implanted not biologically or psychologically, but sociologically, by

association with carriers of the norms or culture during socialization. As a result of viewing

the problem in this fashion, Sutherland paints himself into a corner that does not allow very

adequate prediction of criminal behavior other than in an after-the-fact fashion, nor is he able

to deal with variables like opportunity, needs, or alternatives to criminal behavior.

If Sutherland had heeded his original concern of introducing the "person-situation

complex" and had taken seriously aspects of symbolic interactionism by emphasizing the

social meanings of events and the "interpretive process" and viewing behavior as constructed,

his "swan-song" article might not have been necessary. By viewing internalized definitions of

the situation as one element of social action, then the door is open to include variables that

gave him so much trouble such as opportunity, intensity of need and alternatives to criminal

actions, in situations. These could still be constructed in a process model by broadening the
focus to a person-situation-complex, the disposition to conform to others expectations, the

process of mutual influence in constructing definitions of situation, the expectancies of certain

rewards or a cost benefit analysis of alternative courses of action and other variables which

were inter-related could be incorporated into the theoretical analysis. In addition, research

could determine the relative importance of "internalized definitions" of actions versus

situational factors to examine how much of the variance could be accounted for by this

variable. The Milgram (1963) and Zimbardo (1972) experiments showed how quickly

behavior could be transformed independent of prior socialization or moral values.

Relationships between sentiments, cognition and actions: Thus no simple relationship exists

between sentiments the actor may acquire through their associations and how persons act in

particular contexts on specific occasions. Sutherland's failure to deal with the situational

context and its effect on the individual committing a criminal act, irrespective of their

attitudes toward law violation, has drawn sharp criticism from social control theorists.

Although Sutherland states that an ability to recognize and identify good opportunities for

crime is part of the criminal socialization, his main focus is on prior acquired definitions.

However, whether the individual actually engages in criminal acts and how frequently they

engage in crime, may depend on: the opportunities, severity of sanctions, and expectancies of

getting caught. If expectations of getting caught are very high, individuals may not engage in

crime even if their prior definitions are favorable to it. Thus the rate of crime in a particular

community may be a function the accountability structure and likelihood of arrest, that is, the

effectiveness of social control agencies. In Boston, when the police went on strike, widespread

looting occurred (Russel:1975) as it did in New York during a black out. This suggests that

there is a ready pool of persons who will commit looting when the accountability structure

changes. Persistence in criminal patterns: Cortes and Gatti (1972) emphasize the

continued support of the group is necessary for the individual to persist in criminal behavior;

"deviant behavior is strengthened, improved and re-enforced by association and interaction

with other delinquents, but it is not always created or produced by this interaction”. They
present little empirical data to support this claim, however.

Situational Factors: Sutherland ignores other situational factors such as victim-

precipitated crime (Wolfgang:1957) (however that may be a learned definition of acceptable

violence), fights encouraged by bystanders (others help redefine situation), and alcohol or

drugs, which focus on other circumstances than internalized definitions. Persons who commit

homicide usually kill persons with whom they are intimate. Such persons rarely repeat the

crime. So whatever precipitated the act may have grown out of the interaction and

relationship rather than a definition that still persists in the offender. Often they are

remorseful after their act. This does not mean to imply that there are not culturally induced

sentiments and responses in the relationship, but that sometimes individuals frustrations may

take them beyond what they intended.

Summary: Most of Sutherland's problems can be traced to the underlying

functional paradigm's model of the actor, and the mechanistic conception of social behavior.

Sutherland's model is one which views culture as "out there", which then becomes

internalized on the basis of exposure related to associations or interactions with specific others,

and when a certain ratio is reached of relative exposure to criminal definitions, then certain

criminal actions simply follow. The idea that the main factor is a definition favorable or

unfavorable to law violating behavior is overly simplistic. Symbolic interactionists would

argue that it is a gross over simplification of the processes involved in understanding human

behavior.

Failure to Account for Origin of Crime:

A further limitation of Sutherland's theory, in so far as he claimed it to be a

comprehensive theory of crime, is that it does not account for the origin of criminal traditions

or norms. His original theory laid claims to explaining differences in group criminality and

his explanation consisted in the notion that certain behaviors existed in society as accepted

traditions among groups before they were made illegal, and persisted as criminal traditions

thereafter in a form of culture conflict. After assuming such differences in the population, the
theory proceeds to examine how they are perpetuated in the population. Males, adolescents,

working class, individuals are more likely to be exposed to criminal definitions of the situation

and therefore are more likely to engage in crime. Thus his theory is primarily a theory of

cultural transmission, which has made little contribution to our understanding of the origin of

criminal traditions or crime that is independently invented.

The questions of the origins of criminal patterns, the differences in crime rates between

various societies, the particular form crime assumes, why certain patterns of crime such as

theft or homicide are differentially distributed within a society with respect to region, class,

ethnicity, occupation, etc., are not dealt with adequately by Sutherland's theory.

One hypothesis with respect to the rate of crime would follow from his theory is that

the frequency of crime is a function of the degree of culture conflict in society. How would

Sutherland account for crime in societies that exhibited no culture conflict? A danger is the

possibility of tautological reasoning, that is, assuming culture conflict exists because there is

crime. Why a particular group in society has a high rate of economic crime and why

fluctuations in the rates of crime during economic or political crises occur is also not

adequately addressed with by the theory. Another hypothesis could me made with respect to

changes in crime rates. Sutherland accounts for variation in crime rates as a result of changes

in interaction patterns which increase or decrease exposure to criminal definitions. He

employs the concept of "differential social organization" (i.e., that groups organize for or

against crime for some unspecified reason) to account, very tenuously, for variation in crime

rates across societies. These issues need greater exploration.

This limits the theory to a particular level of analysis and segment of the problem, e.g.

why particular individuals engage in crime, and thus is not a comprehensive theory of crime.

The theory basically fails to deal with the question of where deviant norms come from and

why they emerge.

Alternative Explanations:
 Radical and Structural Critiques: The failure of Sutherland's theory to address itself to

the structural aspects of crime by focusing exclusively on the process of cultural transmission

would draw sharp criticism from the radical and conflict camps in sociology. Sutherland's

paradigm of social behavior and the interactionist's critique both fail to examine the role of

the social organization and social structure in defining the situation, limiting opportunities,

and possible alternatives courses of action or avenues. Both fail to examine the role of power

in the individual's defining situations, bringing resources to bear upon influencing other's

actions or in creating alternative avenues. Furthermore, people's positions in the structure of

society give them vested interests in certain structural arrangements and definitions, which

they would be more likely to support or engage in activities to change.

Individuals don't negotiate definitions from the same power base and inherent

structural, economic, and political conflicts create different interests in maintaining cultural

definitions and effecting social change. Certain groups also have power to determine which

definitions shall be law and that power has an economic and social base, it is not merely a

matter of cultural conflict. Crime is what the police and courts brand as crime, and these

institutions embody certain class interests which are not only reflected in what the law is, but

in how that law will be applied to persons in society. Sutherland's insightful investigations of

White Collar crime reflect his awareness of the problem. The differential application of law,

however, was never incorporated into the theory. Property crimes are related to an

individual's position in the economic structure of society and unemployment is created by

certain social processes of allocating wealth and creating jobs; both are wholly outside of the

purview of Sutherland's analysis. This, of course, is related to why groups are differentially

organized for and against crime--it is related to position and advantage in the existing social

structure.

Labeling Critique: The reaction of society to law breaking, in particular the agents of

social control and the general public, as well as the process that induct persons into deviant

roles and freeze them in disadvantaged positions, so fully elucidated in the labeling approach,
is given little significance by Sutherland. The fact that society may be organized to keep

persons in deviant roles, and that contingencies play a significant part in whether a person

gets labeled as a deviant are not developed or incorporated into Sutherland's Differential

Association theory.

In summary, though insightful, problems remain with Differential Association theory.

There has been progress and refinement of social learning theories over the past 50 years, but

it still lacks the specificity, precision and clarity that an acceptable theory of crime would

require. A few attempts to modify the theory have not been breakthroughs, though it has

generated research focusing on intervening processes but no new frameworks have emerged.

Even translating the theory into set theory (DeFleur and Quinney:1966) has led to no major

clarification or change in the theory. The important process of socialization which Sutherland

emphasizes and central to much sociological theorizing, still has received little attention by

sociologists either with respect to theories of socialization or research on the process. This is

unfortunate since socialization is not only crucial to understanding deviance, but all social

behavior. Yet too little is known about socialization processes. That Sutherland's theory has

limits is not particularly troublesome, but that the cumulative body of research has not

resulted in more refinement of the theory or specification of the variables or process involved

in the learning of deviant patterns or roles is of concern.

All in all, while many years have elapsed since the advent of this theory, only a few

significant advances have occurred. A serious problem is that this approach is based on

flawed symbolic interactionism. Sutherland's second mistake was to view the causes of crime

as internal, and failed to take the social structure into account in examining the roots of

criminal traditions, though some sociologists seek to bridge the two approaches. Some

progress in specifying intervening process in the causal chain has moved Sutherland's theory

slightly forward. However, its lack of specification have led some to conclude that it should

not be regarded as a theory, but should be of more as a principle since so many of its crucial

elements are lacking with respect to a comprehensive theory.

Application of Sutherland's theory to other areas of deviance: Sutherland's theory

incorporates Sellin's (1938) theory of culture conflict which views crime as a direct result of

conflicting norms. Crime is caused by a conflict between: subcultures and the larger society

or another subculture, or where one society is extended or takes over the territory of another

and imposes its values on that culture, or where members migrate from one society to another

taking their old cultures to the new society. A variety of other studies such as Watson's (1980)

study of Biker Gangs, Miller’s (1958) description of the conflict between middle and working

class culture, Cohen's Delinquent Boys (1955), Cloward and Ohlin's Delinquency and

Opportunity (1960), Wallace’s (1965) study of skid row alcoholics, Bryant’s (1965) study of

call girls, etc. exemplify culture conflict entailing subcultures which lead to deviance. Many

studies, however, do not explore the process of socialization into the divergent subcultures.

Sykes and Matza's "Techniques of Neutralization" (1957) describe techniques utilized

by delinquents to nullify conventional norms, such as (a) denial of responsibility: I was drunk,

(b) denial of injury: no one was really hurt, (c) denial of victim: the victim is really the wrong

doer, (d) condemning the condemners: its really their fault, and (5) appeals to higher loyalties:

I had to help my friend. They function to mitigate blame and justify their actions. These are

equivalent to Sutherland’s “rationalizations”, which are involved in learning criminal

behavior. Their approach differs in that deviants supposedly steeped in criminal culture, have

also internalized conventional norms in that they have guilt, and law breaking is not simply

the result of applying already internalized criminal norms. For Matza there is indeterminacy

in the process in engaging in criminal behavior. Matza’s (1964) description of “drifting into

delinquency” would suggest a less determined process than what Sutherland sets forth.

Whether these techniques make crime more possible and are part of the causes of crime or

they merely justify the individuals’ actions after the criminal behavior to assuage guilt or

blame, is not clearly specified. Sculla and Marolla (1984) describe similar efforts by rapists to

justify their acts as does Cressey (1971) among embezzlers. These are examples of learning
rationalizations described in Sutherland's theory. The question is: are they learned prior to

the deviant act and make it more likely, or after the deviant act and have little to do with the

etiology of the deviance?

While Sutherland's theory was developed in criminology, he suggested the process was

of such a general nature that it could be applied to all social behavior. Studies of socialization

into deviant roles by labeling theorists have employed many aspects of Sutherland's theory.

Becker (1963), in his observations of marijuana users, identified aspects of socialization that

must occur before an individual becomes a marijuana user, which include learning the

techniques of smoking, defining its effects as pleasurable, etc., which are learned in association

with other smokers. Studies of learning other deviant roles such as a skid row bum (Wallace,

1965), a nudist (Weinberg, 1966), or a call girl (Bryan, 1965), similarly identify socialization

into these patterns of deviance.

The specifics of the learning may differ but the process is one that involves differential

association with carriers of the deviant culture. This theory of cultural transmission focuses

on the process of socialization and has application to individual and subcultural aspects of

deviance. Deviants are conformists to their respective group standards and are strongly

influenced, like all members of society, by their respective groups’ norms.

As we have suggested, Sutherland's theory is an attempt to explain why deviant

patterns of behavior are manifest in particular individual's conduct, and the manner in which

they are acquired. The theory is incomplete as it stands and requires further elaboration

along many lines. One of the significant questions not addressed by Sutherland's theory is the

origin of deviant norms. We shall now turn to a sociologist who has proposed a theory that

addresses this question, Albert Cohen's theory of Gang Delinquency.

ORIGIN OF DEVIANT NORMS AND DEVIANT SUBCULTURES

Cohen's Theory of Gang Delinquency

 Albert Cohen (1955) proposed a theory to explain the origin of deviant subcultures and

norms in society. Unlike Sutherland, Cohen focused upon only one pattern of deviant

behavior, gang delinquency. His concern was to identify societal conditions, which gave rise to

deviant norms and sub-cultures. The theory sought to explain: (a) the origin of delinquent

subcultures and what functions they performed for those individuals, (b) why the norms had

the distinctive content they did, and (c) why the delinquent gangs were differentially

distributed in the social structure. Cohen's theory was even more divorced than Sutherland's

from empirical studies.

Cohen's Theory of "Gang Delinquency"

In 1955, Albert Cohen set forth a theory of delinquency in his book "Delinquent Boys"

to explain the known facts about "male working class adolescent gang delinquency". The

focus of Cohen's theory was to explain the origin of delinquent norms, a problem neglected by

Sutherland. His theory specifically is designed to explain the origin of delinquent subcultures

(DSC).

Acquiring Delinquent Patterns by Participating in the Delinquent Subculture:

A subculture is an organized set of values, norms, beliefs, and attitudes that have

become a traditional way of life among certain segments of a population. A "delinquent"

subculture is one where anti-social behavior is required by the norms of the group.

Cohen, like Sutherland, believed that delinquency was not inborn, nor something the

individual contrived on their own, but that the person learns to become a delinquent by

becoming a member of a group where delinquency is an already established pattern and is

required by the norms of the group. The adolescent need not have any defects of personality

or intelligence to become a delinquent; in fact, these may be obstacles to learning the

delinquent role. Rather, delinquent patterns are acquired by interacting with others who

share this pattern. Individuals enter and leave subcultures continually, but its norms and

values frequently persist beyond the lives of particular individuals, much the same as

children's games persist despite the fact that individuals grow to adulthood leaving the
patterns behind. The only difference between the delinquent and non-delinquent is exposure

to the subculture. Some delinquents are bright and others dull, and some are emotionally

disturbed and others not. The same is true, however, for non-delinquents, so that these

attributes are irrelevant to their delinquency. Similar to Sutherland, Cohen argues the process

of becoming a delinquent is the same as that of becoming a boy scout--only the content of

what they learn differs!

Cohen's theory is opposed to psychological explanations such as: a delinquent is a kid

who has never been trained to act like a "human" (If I let my kid run wild like that, he would

be the same way), or these kids don't know right from wrong, or the child has been tossed

from pillar to post, never had love, his folks argued, came from a broken home, or he is all

mixed up, or similar common sense explanations. It is also opposed to notions of inadequate

personality development which views delinquency as: a "symptom", a method of coping with

problems, acting out internal psychic conflicts, or a product of family disturbances. These

explanations fail to specify how delinquency was chosen, and how it happens that other

delinquents contrive the same solutions independently. While Cohen acknowledges the

possibility of such types of delinquency, he regards it as insignificant to the total volume of

delinquency in society. Cohen's theory, in any case, is restricted to delinquencies, which have

a social origin.

Description of the Delinquent Subculture:

Cohen's theory is limited to lower class male gang delinquency. He assumes it results

from the participation in a delinquent subculture, and his description focuses primarily on the

norms and values of the delinquent subculture. Three themes of the norms and values are

singled out for attention: (1) non-utilitarianism, (2) maliciousness, and (3) negativistic.

1) Cohen describes the delinquent subculture crime as non-utilitarian. Usually we

assume people steal things because they want them for some use--to eat, wear, or sell or in

some way use them. However, among these delinquents stealing is often an end in itself, and

the stolen objects are of secondary importance. In the vernacular of the gang, it is described
as "stealing for the hell of it".

The stealing is done and valued because there is attached to the process some status,

recognition, or satisfaction. Cohen gives examples of boys going into a store, stealing an

object, going on to another store and covertly exchanging it for other objects, and so on.

Stealing affords recognition, and thus is a means for attaining status in the group. Some

stealing, no doubt, is for the desired object. This occasional pattern of stealing would also

exist in other groups that weren't necessarily delinquent, and some delinquents may be

oriented primarily toward theft. But the sub-culture identified by Cohen has a non-

utilitarian orientation toward stealing which distinguishes it from other types of subcultures.

2) Cohen also describes the orientation of the delinquency as malicious. The

delinquency involves malice, which can be defined as an enjoyment in the discomfort of

others or in defying social taboos. Thrasher (1927) noted one gang delinquent saying:

"We did all kinds of dirty tricks for fun. We'd see a sign "keep off the grass" or "please
keep the streets clean", but we would tear it down and say we don't feel like keeping the
streets clean. One day we put a can of glue in the engine of a man's car. We would always
tear things down. That would make us laugh and feel good to have so many jokes".

The gang may exhibit hostility toward other gangs through gang wars or it may

terrorize "good" children by driving them from playgrounds or other respectable activity.
The same spirit of maliciousness can be found in schools as evidenced by vandalism, attacks

against teachers, destroying school property, etc. These acts, Cohen suggests, indicate

obvious malice on the part of the delinquent value system.

3) The norms of the delinquent subculture can also be characterized as negativistic.

The rules of the DSC are not merely different from those of respectable society; rather they

are purposely opposite to the larger cultural rules. Delinquent conduct is "right" according

to the subculture, precisely because it is "wrong" in the larger society. Acts which are

considered dishonorable and degrading in respectable society, such as aggressiveness, hurting

people, sadism, skill at stealing, and cleverness at evading the law, are those which serve to
enhance the status of the delinquent.

Thus laws are not merely to be evaded--they are to be flaunted! If the delinquent

norms were merely a different set of codes, the laws might be ignored. It is the open flaunting,

characteristic of the deviance that evidences the negativistic nature of the delinquent code.

In effect, this can be described as an oppositional or contra-culture. The delinquent

norms, Cohen argues, are purposely opposite and antithetical to the norms of respectable

society. While it may appear to some that the behavior of these "hoodlums" appears to

exhibit no rhyme or reason, their actions indicate to Cohen a clear pattern--they are based on

a calculated contempt for the rights of other people. Delinquent norms can be defined by this

negative polarity to middle class norms. Delinquent morality is the inversion of respectable

morality.

Cohen also characterizes the delinquent subculture as hedonistic, which is not

distinctively a delinquent characteristic and can be found throughout working class culture.

Emphasis on short-range goals and "hanging around a corner waiting for something to turn

up" are commonly sentiments in non-delinquent as well as delinquent groups in the working

class.

In summary, the delinquent subculture, like any subculture, involves certain activities

that are essential to the performance of the subculture's dominant roles. In the case of

Cohen's delinquent subcultures, these acts violate basic norms of the middle class society.

Distribution of Delinquent Gangs;

The theory should account for both the form and content of the subculture and its

distribution in society. It should be able to account for the following facts: Gang delinquency

is more frequently found among (1) males more than females in our society, (2) is more

common in adolescence than other periods of life, (3) is more likely to be found in the

working than in the middle or upper classes, and (4) urban than rural areas, and in parts of

the city close to the central business district rather than in the suburbs. An adequate theory

would account for these facts.

Purpose of Cohen's Theory:

The scope of Cohen's theory is limited to one pattern of delinquent subculture--a non-

utilitarian, malicious, and negativistic type of gang delinquency. The purpose of the theory is

to account for the emergence of the delinquent subculture and its specific form. Specifically

it attempts to account for why the subculture emerges, why it takes the form it does ,why it is

distributed in our society as it is, and what functions it performs for its members.

Description of Cohen's Theory of Gang Delinquency:

Briefly stated, Cohen argues that the subculture develops as a response and solution to

the problem of "status insecurity"--that is, the delinquent subculture develops as a means of

permitting working class boys to adapt to their inferior status positions in society.

In order to more fully comprehend his theory he directs our attention to the structure

of American society, which he suggests lies at the core of the problem of delinquent

subcultures. Specifically he focuses on the process of stratification and the class structure of

American society. American society is characterized by the existence of a social class

structure that is critical in shaping a wide range of the individual's experience and behavior.

The two classes of interest to Cohen's theory are the middle and working classes.

Occupation is a critical factor in the placement of individuals into the class structure.

Associated with each class is also a style of life, a distinctive pattern of living associated with

each strata; in other words, a class subculture.

Cohen begins by describing the middle class value system. He states that despite the

fact that the bulk of the population is working class our society is nonetheless molded and

shaped by middle class values. Hence both the middle and working class must come to grips

with these values.

The middle class value system is a modified version of the "Protestant Ethic".

Basically it presupposes an obligation to strive toward worldly success and achievement,

mainly through rational, ascetic, self-disciplined, and independent activity. Success results
from those activities. "Success" is seen as a sign of moral qualities and is equated with

"good", while failure is equated with "badness".

Individuals in the middle class are socialized into these values and they pervade the

individual's life. Central to this value system is achievement and upward mobility.

Several components of the middle class value system are identified:

1) Ambition is a virtue and the lack of it a defect. One is taught to have high levels of
aspirations to long-range goals. Children learn early to be concerned with career
and a determination to "get ahead", to be "somebody" and to be a "success". The
implication is that if you don't get ahead, you are a "nobody"!

2) The middle class value system is also an ethic of individual responsibility. It applauds
self-reliance. It involves a reluctance to turn to others for help. The self made man is
the hero. Working your way up from the bottom to the top is highly rewarded by
middle class recognition.

3) Middle class norms place a high value on the cultivation of skills, be they academic,
athletic or social accomplishments--high performance is always applauded. The
cultivation of manners, courtesy and personality are encouraged. Getting along with
others, making friends, and influencing people are skills related for upward mobility.

4) The norms value worldly asceticism--that is, the postponement of gratification

and self-indulgence in order to achieve long-range goals. Industry and thrift become
exalted as to become ends themselves. The ability to delay gratification and to
tolerate frustration is fostered in socialization. Rationality is highly valued and
careful forethought is much admired over haphazard planning and reliance on
chance.

5) Time is important: it is scarce and valuable and treated like money; you spend it,
don't waste it, budget it, and lose or save it. There is an attempt to consciously plan
and budget time to get the most efficient use out of it. Even recreation should be
wholesome.

6) The middle class ethic emphasizes control over physical aggression and violence.
These are subversive to good interpersonal relations in an impersonal cooperative
social order such as a bureaucracy.

7) The middle class ethic emphasizes respect for property and exhibit almost a quasi-
sacred attitude toward property. Property is ego-involved, and its possession makes
its possessor proud and reflects the "self". The individual is hurt or angry when
such property is damaged or lost. Property should be respected and reflects the
important status of the individual in this society.
 Cohen asserts that these typify the middle class values in our society. He further

argues that these values have a disproportionate influence on society. These are the values

that the middle class is trained in and for whom acceptance pays off in obtaining the desired

rewards. Working class children, on the other hand, get less training in these values and

accordingly do not get the same payoff.

Middle Class Socialization: Socialization patterns, as well as values, are class linked.

In the middle class socialization is a very conscious, rational, deliberate and exacting practice.

Little is left to chance as middle class parents attempt to raise their child's chance of

succeeding in the middle class world. The parents frequently exert effort to control the

child's environment by picking out the right neighborhood, meeting the child's friends, and

supervising their leisure activities.

The techniques of middle class socialization involve creating a strong dependence

upon parental approval and a tendency to utilize "withdrawal of love" as a major

disciplinary technique.

Working-Class Values and Socialization: Working class socialization, in comparison, is

more easy-going, less rational, conscious and deliberate. It is also believed to be less

demanding upon the child. The child's achievements are less likely to be compared with their

peers, and the child is more likely to be governed by their own inclinations. Effort and

accomplishment are not so strictly encouraged. Physical punishment tends to replace

withdrawal of love as a major disciplinary technique.

There is also a difference in values internalized by the children. Working class parents

instill lower aspirations in their children and jobs are evaluated in terms of immediate

income and security rather than long-range opportunities. There is an emphasis on

immediate rather than deferred gratification. An "ethic of reciprocity" is emphasized in

contrast to the middle class ethic of "individual responsibility". That is, there exists more of

a readiness to draw upon one another's resources without feelings of guilt. While this sharing

of resources militates against upward mobility, it does provide a form of social security
among persons in the working class. Socialization allows freer and less disguised expression

to aggression in the working class. Personality is less likely to be viewed as a commodity to

be sold or used to manipulate others. On the other hand, physical prowess also has a more

central place in the working class value system.

Social Class Disabilities in Competition for Status: Why do differences in values, life styles,

and socialization lead to problems of adjustment for large segments of the working class?

The reason, according to Cohen, is that America is molded and shaped by middle class norms

and values. These values are reflected in the functioning of most social institutions such as

the schools, courts, police, church, etc, and are continually expounded in the media and

newspapers. This middle class influence pervades most aspects of society. Thus almost

everyone in the society must come to terms with the middle class value system at one time or

another. The net effect, according to Cohen, is that working class children generally suffer

"status deprivation."

The low status position occupied by the working class male adolescent comes from

several inter-related factors. In our society, the family confers status on adolescents. This

means that the working class child shares the same low social status of his parents. Research

has shown that a child's ability to distinguish the class position of other children is well

developed by the sixth grade. In addition to the ascription of low status, the working class

child does not have the proper insignias of status (i.e., cars, clothes, spending money, job,

education, etc.) that are means for obtaining status. As he moves outside of his family, the

lower class child is soon forced to realize that he stands in an inferior status position. That is,

other members of society look down on him. With respect to his parents, home, clothes and

style of life, he may react with feelings of shame or inferiority or anger. At some point he

must face, and come to terms with the fact that he is negatively evaluated by society. In

addition to possible discriminatory reactions, he is placed in situations where the values set

up for him to achieve are predominantly those of the middle class, which are somewhat alien

to him. The consequences of this are disastrous, as an examination of one social institution--
the school--will show. What occurs in the school is only a microcosm of the larger society.

In the school, the working class boy is forced to attend basically a middle class institution,

run by middle class teachers, according to middle class standards and requirements. Middle

class norms and values are instilled into all students, including those who are working class.

These values are held up for all to achieve and emulate. Rewards are dispensed according to

a child's ability to meet these middle class requirements. Those who live up to these

standards; the clean, "well' dressed, good-mannered and achieving child are those who are

rewarded. These qualities are frequently taken as signs of the child's intelligence as well. The

dirty, ill-mannered, poorly dressed, inarticulate child is not rewarded but punished. Indeed,

these qualities are often taken as evidence of "stupidity". Many rationalizations and

justifications for this labeling process can be found; "they don't even know how to behave

themselves" or "they can't even express themselves--they are so stupid".

An examination of a first grade report card in a large metropolitan city reflects the

values, which are important to the institution. All students are evaluated in the following

areas: Effort, Accomplishment, Obedience, Dependability, Promptness, Cooperation,

Courtesy, Enthusiasm, Habits of Thrift, and Habits of Good Health. These values are

precisely those of the middle class and reflect the incorporation of ideas from the protestant

ethic.6

There are many reasons for this differential treatment of students. First, teachers are

hired as agents of the middle class. This is one reason why the extra-curricular behavior of

teachers is an important criterion in their evaluation. Secondly, teachers themselves have

middle class backgrounds, and therefore are more likely to reward those behaviors consistent

with their values. In some districts, a teacher with poor performance may be threatened with

assignment to working class areas. Thirdly, teachers are generally judged and promoted on

the basis of criteria other than by their ability to impart knowledge. For example, the

orderliness of a teacher's classroom becomes important in promotional considerations. And

because the working class child lacks the training and discipline in maintaining order, they
are more likely to be restless, uneasy, and fidgeting. This is in marked contrast to the middle

class child who is docile and well behaved, and promotes a de-facto discipline in the class-

room when such students are rewarded in the situation.

Thus the working class boy, from his point of view, is forced to compete in an

environment--the school--for which he hasn't been trained. He does not have the skills to

succeed in a school; he has not been taught to delay gratification nor has he been rewarded in

self-discipline. As a result of his socialization he has little interest in school. Since the value

of school and the advantages of college have not been reinforced in his home, the child lacks

the motivation for such long-range goals. He has none of the status symbols upon which to

make claims of respect from teachers. Furthermore, there are often economic pressures to

leave school, thus further inhibiting his ability to obtain middle class values. And finally his

manners, dress and speech evoke discriminatory reactions by teachers and other agents of

society.

Thus the working class adolescent finds himself at the bottom of the status hierarchy

when he moves into the middle class world.

STATUS PROBLEMS AND SELF ESTEEM

Status can be defined as achieving esteem in the eyes of others. In the U.S., the family

initially confers status, although an individual has subsequent opportunities to modify such

ascribed status. Due to this belief, in the United States status is regarded as obtainable to

anyone who is worthy of it. Worth, however, is often defined by the attainment of status (a

rather circular process). Since status is regarded as achieved, low social status tends to be

viewed as a reflection of personal inadequacy. Thus strong feelings of personal worth are at

stake with respect to an individual's status position.

American society is regarded as an "open" society where supposedly anyone has the

opportunity to "get ahead". Furthermore the opportunity to get ahead is involved with a

moral ethic that makes it an obligation to do so. The "status universe" (individuals with

whom you compare yourself) is greatly extended. This is in contrast to a caste society where
the individual may compare himself only with a limited category of others who share the

same social position and similar opportunities. Having a low social position does not

necessarily reflect on an individual personally, so that an individual's position in the society is

not always central to their self-conception.

The pervasive American ideology of an "open" society, which pretends every

individual can be successful and thus achieve status, stands in marked contrast to the harsh

realities of its social structure where persons are unable to compete successfully for the

desired rewards.

The initial environment of the working class adolescent is the family, where they

incorporate working class values. With increased age and participation in society, the

adolescent leaves the narrow confines of his family only to realize that they are looked down

upon because of their inferior status position. This presents problem enough for any

individual. The "status" problem, however, becomes exacerbated as they incorporate middle

class values because then they are forced to look down on them self and their behavior.

That is, if they come to value middle class status, and Cohen suggests to some extent

they do internalize some middle class values from school, the mass media, etc., then to that

extent they will have a problem of adjustment. If they take those goals seriously and begin to

pursue them, most working class persons will find these goals generally unattainable for

them. In school, due to their prior training the adolescent is poorly prepared in the necessary

skills and motivation to compete successfully. Thus their attempts to achieve middle class

status are unlikely to be met with success, as such, middle class status is an unattainable goal,

and the inability to reach desired goals leads to tensions and frustrations in the individual.

The goal sought and which ultimately proves unattainable is status, specifically middle class

status. Cohen characterizes the working class adolescents as "status frustrated". And one

possible consequence of frustration is aggression. This aggression provides the energy and

motivation necessary for the development of a delinquent subculture.

Patterns of Adaptation to Status Frustration: There are several ways that working class
members can adapt to status frustration. Cohen discusses three types of adaptations: gang

delinquency, corner-boy, and college-boy responses.

1) The Delinquent Response: The delinquent subculture is one solution to the problem

of status deprivation. However, two conditions must be present before a "subcultural"

solution will result.

Conditions for the emergence of a subculture: First, human problems must be

distributed in a non-random way in the social system. Individuals must share similar problems

of adjustment. Cohen's theory focused specifically on status problems that were created by

the social system. By virtue of persons’ positions in the class structure of American society,

some individuals are systematically denied esteem. Thus the individuals' frustration results

from their position in the social structure. The system-related aspect of the individual's

position in the class structure is directly related to both the likelihood of their experiencing

problems of adjustment as well as the nature of those problems.

The second general condition for the emergence of a subculture is that opportunities

must be present for effective interaction with others who share similar problems of adjustment.

Such opportunities exist in urban centers, the neighborhood, and the schools that provide a

high density of persons with similar social positions, hence similar problems of adjustment.

Interactional Process in Creating Solutions to Problems: The subcultural response is of

particular interest to Cohen as his theory is solidly grounded upon a particular conception of

groups and the nature of social behavior. Cohen views action as "problem solving". Some

problems that confront individuals have readily available and routinized solutions in the

actors’ frame of reference, while others may be more difficult and have no solutions, which

don't create further problems such as tension, frustration, resentment, guilt or anxiety.

All problems arise from and are solved through changes in the actors’ frame of

reference or the situation or both. Limitations or opportunities for solutions contained

within a situation are always relative to the actors’ point of view. Individuals' social positions

are related to both the problems they are likely to experience and the possibilities for solutions
to that problem. A desirable solution is one that is also acceptable to others on whose good

will the individual is dependent, since conformity to other's expectations is rewarded by

acceptance and respect. In addition, the individual's confidence in his beliefs is a function of

others confirming the validity of his frame of reference. Thus Cohen emphasizes the

importance of the individual's reference group in the costs of evolving new solutions to

problems. Cultural innovation involves some potential risk in rejection by significant others.

When individuals are confronted with problems for which there are no readily available

solution, there is some quest for solutions to their problems of adjustment. When there is

opportunity for effective interaction with others who have similar problems of adjustment,

new cultural forms may emerge which are more effective solutions to the problems of

adjustment.

The formation of new cultural models is a gradual process, which entails exploring

new avenues without jeopardizing social acceptance by others. This results in tentative

directions being explored by small increments, which are quickly abandoned when lack of

acceptance of others is perceived. Thus a process of joint elaboration and mutual exploration

of possible new alternatives to existing cultural models arises. The final product is a

compromise formation unanticipated by any of the participants, but to which all are

committed. It is truly an emergent phenomenon, and one that results from a mutual

convergence. The acceptability of an idea to one's self is a function of its acceptability to

others. In this fashion, culture is always being created. Cultural forms, which don't work for

individuals, don't persist or are modified until they are satisfactory solutions. Thus Cohen

reasons that gangs resemble one another throughout the country because they are responses to

similar problems of adjustment. They are responses to contradictions in the culture. Once in

existence, these cultural forms then modify individual’s behavior.

Thus subcultures develop as solutions to shared problems of adjustment. Sociologists

have long regarded groups as "problem solving mechanisms". Pressures for a collective

solution to problems of loss of esteem arise because the problem cannot be solved without the
cooperation of others. In sum, Cohen argues that delinquent subcultures function to provide

those working class members who are denied status in middle class respectable society a criteria

of status they can meet. Thus the lower class adolescent can achieve in the gang, by norms he

is familiar with and skills he possesses, the very things that are denied him in the larger

society.

The delinquent subculture explicitly rejects middle class values and adopts their very

antithesis. Actively rejecting middle class values accords the delinquent high status. The

subculture, then, fulfills a double function: it both provides the working class boy with a

means for status which he can meet, and it helps him neutralize the values that were the

source of his frustration. According to the standards of his subculture, his non-conformity to

middle class standards sets him above the most exemplary college boy.

The adaptation of the DSC has certain parallels among conventional as well as other

deviant social movements. For example, it is analogous to the ideas of conventional lower

class religious sects whose members believe that God sheds his blessings only on those who

are active in the church and who renounce worldly activity. Thus, it is not the rich or

successful churchgoer who sits at the right hand of God; rather, it is the meek, the mild, and

the poor. Poverty rather than wealth is a virtue.

(Discussion of movements among deviant groups such as beatniks, hippies,

punks, skinheads, and forms of counter cultures, to be included later.)

As previously noted, one possible consequence of status frustration is aggression. The

delinquent subculture serves to legitimize aggression toward the source of the frustration--

middle class values and norms. Thus the aggression is directed at the primary source of the

frustration. The DSC encourages the expression of hostility toward the more salient symbols

of middle class morality and property. Property not only symbolizes middle class morality,

but also is importantly associated with personal value and worth. Thus the destruction of

property is equivalent to a symbolic destruction of middle class status. School vandalism is

also more comprehensible as an arena of failure.

 Here we see Cohen examining the social structure creating problems of adjustment

and also focusing on the social processes and interaction among effected persons in creating

new cultural forms marrying both functional and symbolic interactionism in his formulation.

2) Corner-Boy Response: Perhaps the most common adaptation to status frustration is

the corner-boy adaptation. This represents a reluctant acceptance of the working class way

of life. It involves a withdrawal into a community of like-minded individuals who engage in,

and approve of, manual labor. Unlike the delinquent, the corner boy avoids a rupture of

good relations with working class adults and does not completely renounce upward mobility

and success. Furthermore, he does not incur the hostility of middle class persons, leaving the

door open for the pursuit of values such as jobs, which are controlled by middle class persons.

The corner-boy response involves a preference for stability rather than the risks and

uncertainties of both the delinquent and college boy response. Rather than repudiating

middle class culture, as the DSC does, the corner boy subculture de-emphasizes it and re-

emphasizes working class culture and values like security and stability.

3) College-boy response: The college-boy response is simple and clear-cut. The working

class college boy internalizes middle class values and attempts to achieve them. This response

is difficult for it requires him to re-socialize himself and to repudiate much of his own

working class socialization. Therefore, the college boy response is probably relatively rare. It

also tends to be an individualistic response to the problems of status deprivation.

All the responses involve certain costs and gratifications. The delinquent response

results in high status and acceptance within the subculture, and permits the expression and

release of hostility. However, it also involves rejection by both the working and middle class

communities. Thus cut off from adults, the delinquent becomes further dependent upon his

peers for rewards and guidance, so that the delinquent subculture exerts considerable

influence over his behavior.

The corner-boy response leads to acceptance within the working class culture, but

only a quasi acceptance by the middle class. The boy may still feel that he is a failure in
terms of the middle class norms, for although he has de-emphasized them; he has also

partially internalized them.

The college boy is actively rejected by the corner boy and delinquent subculture and

receives a partial or early rejection by the middle class community. However, the middle class

may gradually come to accept him as he achieves status over time.

Application of Cohen's Theory to Female and Middle Class Delinquency:

Although Cohen's theory was limited to adolescent male working class gang

delinquency, Cohen explored its applicability with modification to female and middle class

delinquency.

Female Delinquency: The character of female delinquency is different than male

delinquency in that: (a) it is less common than male delinquency, and (b) it assumes a

different form than gang delinquency, involving sexual offenses primarily.

Theoretical Considerations: In order to account for these facts, Cohen applies the same

general orientation. His central assumption was that the middle class value system impinges

differentially upon the working class than it does upon the middle class. It also impinges

differentially upon males than females in American society. Cohen's assumption that the

social role occupied by the individual is related to the kinds of problems they experience is

reapplied to the sex role context. Because roles are related to problems of adjustment, we

would expect different role contexts to generate different types of problems, and consequently

the responses of persons would vary with the problems than confront them.

Therefore, attention must be turned to the male-female role in the context of

American society. The DSC is primarily a male subculture, and as such it involves a

reaffirmation of the masculinity of the group members. The delinquent response, however it

may be viewed on moral grounds, has at least one clear-cut virtue--it confirms to all the

masculinity of its members. There is daringness, aggressiveness, and active mastery as well

as exploitation in delinquent activities, which are traits strongly associated with the male role

in our society.
 The delinquent typically measures his performance, whether it be stealing or fighting,

against the performances of other gang members, in the same fashion that everyone measures

themselves in terms of their friends in the same sex and age rankings. Males compare

themselves with other males on performance and achievement criteria.

Females not only compare themselves with other females, rather than males, but they

also use a different set of criteria. For girls, in the era described by Cohen, the major

criterion of comparison is their relationship with the opposite sex. The female's position in

society, the admiration, respect and station in life that she commands depends on the kinds of

relationship she establishes with males. In contrast, a male's success is much more dependent

on his own occupational achievements. Females, similar to children, in American society,

assumed the social position of the head of the household--the man. Therefore female's

upward mobility involved marriage rather than occupational achievement, and was

dependent upon her ability to attract and marry a higher status man. Although occupational

achievement is of increasing importance for women, it still remains more important to the

man's status. A woman may receive some recognition for her occupation, but her ultimate

success rests on her ability to fulfill the conventional image of the female role--that of wife

and mother. The sexism of the era found its way into Cohen's theory.

Thus, relationships with boys were crucial in determining the adolescent girl's social

position. Dating popularity with boys, charm, clothes, ability to dance, etc. were of obvious

importance to the girl’s status in her group.

The status, security, and acceptability of a female's self image depended, therefore,

upon establishing satisfactory relationships with males. To this end, sexuality was employed

as the primary means. A basic determinant of the female's peace of mind and feeling of

security is the assurance of her sexual attractiveness. The money spent by women to increase

their attractiveness and the portrayal of women as sex objects is characteristic of advertising

directed at women; and say to the female, "you too may be sexually attractive and therefore

successful at the job of being a woman.”

 Cohen not only emphasizes the factor of sexual attractiveness, but also distinguishes it

from accessibility. Attractiveness alone, without accessibility, may yield dividends. Sexual

accessibility, though, has one clear cut virtue.

It paid the most immediate and certain dividends by way of male attention, pursuit,

and company--these being reassuring evidence of success at the job of being a woman. But

sexual accessibility also has its costs and may be dangerous for the female. Although the

"loose" girl may get a large male following, she may weaken her position in the marriage

market. For the upwardly mobile female, a careful cultivation and balance of sexual

attractiveness and sexual accessibility would result in marriage to a higher status male.

Thus female delinquency is motivated by different problems than male delinquency

because of the different roles and positions assigned to males and females in American

society.

Patterns of adaptation among working class females can be found which parallel those

of their male counterparts: the delinquent response, the corner and college girl responses. If

the working class girl selects the female equivalent of the "college boy" adaptation, her

relationship with a boy has to payoff in marriage. She must have an acceptable reputation,

and cultivate a style of life consisting of charm, personality, good taste, and breeding that are

considered desirable in the social level to which she aspires. She must make shrewd use of

her sexuality and exploit the possibilities of dieting, dress, etc., to enhance herself and attract

male attention. She must attract men as a magnet, but still hold them off from their demands

without losing their attention, keeping them circulating in orbit around her--not too close

and not too far.

To attain upward mobility, both the working and middle class girl will be competing

for the same type of men. However the girls do not come equally prepared to compete.

Through socialization the middle class female has learned the necessary motivation and skills

required for successful competition.

The working class girl does not have the manners, breeding, and taste considered
desirable for the middle class male's conception of a wife. His family and friends may exert

pressure on him to drop her because of her background or behavior. In addition, she does

not have equal access to those enhancing symbols of sexuality such as dress, hairdo's cars,

etc. that would increase her popularity with boys (i.e., give her "class"!) Furthermore, she is

more likely to seek the immediate benefits of male attention rather than the long range and

ultimate payoff in marriage. She hasn't been trained in the personality skills necessary for

keeping boys guessing in order to maintain a "not too close, not too far" situation. She has

more difficulty in stopping before relationships become sexually involved. In effect, the

working class girl is less likely to compete effectively to enhance her female status.

In order to compete more effectively and increase her popularity, the working class

girl employs sexual accessibility. The social cost, in terms of guilt may be less than for she has

learned different values, and therefore would be more likely to engage in pre-marital sexual

relations. Less attractive middle class females might engage in the same tactics to offset their

competitive disadvantage.

When the expectancy of success is low, a second pattern may emerge. The female

abandons the pursuit of success, and uses her sexuality to flaunt conventional sexual mores,

which are an avenue for upward mobility for the female in American society. Sexuality is not

used to enhance popularity, but rather acts of sexual deviancy such as orgies or blatant

promiscuity flaunt middle class taboos. Her behavior, like the gang delinquent, is in direct

opposite to middle class values, but related to her sex role.

Thus status frustration underlies both the male and female delinquent's adaptation.

The differentiating factors are related to the primary means by which the sexes achieve

status. The reason that there is less delinquency among females is that there is less pressure

upon them to become upwardly mobile. Hence there are fewer female delinquents. Because

upward mobility involves different avenues, different patterns of deviant responses evolve.

However, as gender roles have undergone transformation, and as much of Cohen’s

description is dated in the 1950’s and 1960’s, gender roles are becoming more similar,
patterns of delinquency should also become more similar, if Cohen theory is correct.

Middle Class Gang Delinquency: With some modification, Cohen believes his theory can

also shed light on middle class male gang delinquency. One-explanation views middle class

delinquency stemming form the same factors as working class delinquency.

Some families are middle class economically, but working class in terms of culture.

Middle class delinquency occurs in families in middle class areas who are culturally working

class. The "nouveau" middle class includes significant numbers of such persons. Middle

class boys who are culturally working class will encounter many of the same problems faced

by other working class adolescents in aspiring towards upward mobility.

An alternative social psychological explanation, first proposed by Parsons (1942) and

later elaborated by Cohen, suggests that the sex role status is a critical factor among middle

class male adolescents. The middle class adolescent is more likely to have problems in

achieving adult male status than his working class counterpart. The theory rests on the

premise that the middle class boy has a more difficult in establishing his masculine identity

than the working class boy.

The problem of masculine identity results from several factors. First, the father is

frequently absent from the home in the middle class family. He works in the city, but lives in

the suburbs; therefore he arrives home late, sometimes after the children are asleep. Second,

the father's occupation in not easily understood by the boy. It is difficult to identify with an

absent father who engages in a vague, incomprehensible activity. Thus the middle class boy

has less opportunity to establish an identification with the father as a role model. Third, the

child tends to be isolated in the suburbs, which is primarily a woman's world.

Fourth, the middle class child has a much longer period of dependence on his parents.

If he goes to college, his dependence may last until he is twenty-one or older. Therefore, he

has fewer opportunities to assume an independent role. Even when the middle class child

works, his job is viewed more as character building than as an important contribution to the

family from which he can obtain status or recognition as an adult.

 Fifth, the middle class child's close and intense identification and involvement with his

family leads to a very early and strong feminine identification. The primary disciplinary

technique of the middle class family is "withdrawal of love", which involves making the child

dependent upon parental approval and withdrawing the approval when the child engages in

disapproved acts. The child becomes "hooked" on love, and the threat of its withdrawal

provides the parents with an important control over his behavior. This situation fosters close

and intense relationships, as well as a high degree of identification between family members.

Because the mother is generally the primary figure in the child's early life, as well as the

major dispenser of rewards and punishments, children of both sexes form an early and

intense identification with her. This creates few problems for the girl. For the male, however,

such identification can lead to serious complication in his later adjustment.

As a result of this early identification, to the boy, conforming comes to have unusual

meanings. Since his mother was the principal definer of "good" or "respectable"

behavior--"goodness" comes to symbolize "femininity". Thus femininity and conformity

become associated in the child's mind. When the male begins to move outside the home into

the larger society, he is faced with strong pressure to establish an acceptable masculine

identification. Since conformity and femininity has become closely associated, engaging in

the opposite of "good" i.e., bad, comes to be associated with confirming masculinity in the

middle class adolescents mind.

The working class boy, on the other hand, has greater opportunities to establish an

acceptable masculine identification and has therefore less anxiety about his sex role. The

father is likely to be more visible in the home, his occupation is more understandable to child,

the division of labor according to sex role is clearer cut, and physical punishment rather than

withdrawal of love is the major disciplinary technique. This form of punishment does not

lead to an overly close identification with the mother. Also the working class boy's job makes

him an important contributor to the family, and because he works at an earlier age, he does

not need to assert his independence in the same way. He is an independent breadwinner who
is accorded adult respect.

Cohen suggests that there is much greater pressure on the middle class adolescents to

validate their adult masculine status. Anxiety and doubts about their masculinity lead to a

behavior Cohen describes as "compulsive masculinity" which is primarily an attempt to

convince themselves and others, that they are indeed masculine. According to Cohen, the

cult of compulsive masculinity forms the basic motivation for delinquent subcultures among

the middle class. This explains, Cohen argues, why delinquents go out of their way not to be

labeled "sissies" or react so strongly to aspersions of their masculinity. As noted earlier, the

delinquent subculture provides an admirable vehicle for attesting to masculinity. In working

class homes without fathers, the same dynamics may be present.

Summary of Cohen's Theory

Cohen's theory was designed to account for the emergence of a non-utilitarian,

malicious and negativistic delinquent subculture found among urban, lower class male

adolescents. Cohen explores the characteristics of American society which produce this

subculture, and links the origin of the subculture to the stratification system, i.e., the ways

rewards are allocated in our society. American society is molded by middle values, and the

working class gets less training in these values and accordingly gets less payoff. The

delinquent subculture arises out of the "socially structured gap" between aspirations and the

means realistically available to the working class to realize these aspirations. This gap exists

because: (a) working class individuals are not equally prepared to compete for status

positions a result of differential socialization which stresses disadvantageous values,

motivation and skills, (b) inferior economic resources limit access to enhancing status symbols

and opportunities, and (c) discriminating reactions create social barriers which limit

opportunities. The end result is that the working class person suffers from "status

deprivation" and low self esteem. When status deprivation is widely experienced through

certain portions of the social structure, and there is sufficient opportunity for effective

interaction, a subculture is likely to develop which serves to recover lost self-esteem and acts
as an insulation from further relative evaluation. This hostile response to middle class society

serves as a solution to the problem of status insecurity. Through hostility directed at the

middle class, those deprived of status are able to gain recognition and esteem through

standards and criteria which they can meet and which, at the same time, repudiate, those

discrediting factors in society which gave rise to the discontent. Not everyone who joins the

gang has to be motivated by status discontent, as once the gang is formed, members may join

for a variety of reasons including fellowship, fun, protection or conscription by other gang

members.

Evaluation of Cohen's Theory:

Is Cohen's theory free from logical contradiction? Is it testable? What empirical

support is there for the theory?

Logical adequacy of the theory: Some criticisms have been raised by Kitsuse and

Dietrick (1959). One issue they raise is that of a contradiction in Cohen's description of the

working class boy's relation to the middle class. One the one hand, Cohen states that the

working class boy values the good opinion of middle class persons and, on the other hand, he

states that it may be argued that the working class boy does not care what middle class

people think of him. This causes Kitsuse and Dietrick to wonder whether the "ambivalence"

of working class boys was sufficient for Cohen to introduce the concept of "reaction

formation." Parts of Cohen's description of the working class boy's perception of the middle

class world is one of resentment at the intrusion of "foreigners" who seek to impose upon him

an irrelevant way of life. Thus Cohen's description would also lead one to conclude that the

working class boy does not desire to achieve status in this system.

A second criticism they raise is that the concepts of "non-utilitarianism",

"maliciousness", and "negativism" are judgmental concepts and are interpretive categories

of description, which are not independent of Cohen's explanation of the delinquent

subculture. They question his imputation of intent that is implicit in his description of their
activities as malicious. Thus they assert that there is circularity in Cohen's reasoning which

confounds his description of the subculture with his explanation of it. Others have

questioned how Cohen was able to unproblematically determine the meaning of social actions

to the actors in that situation without supporting research. They regard these as

inconsistencies or ambiguities in the theory.

Testability of the theory: Kitsuse and Dietrick (1959) further argue that Cohen's

theory is inherently untestable! They feel its research directives are not clear. The theory

appears to be an historical construction addressed to the explanation of the emergence of an

existing subculture and its present concentration among certain populations in the society.

However, Kitsuse and Dietrick argue that Cohen's use of the present indicative is misleading

since the origin of the delinquent subculture requires historical data in order to test the

theory. That is, Cohen utilizes concepts that require data about psychological characteristics

of past populations. Cohen's theory does not state that the working class adolescent is

ambivalent about middle class values merely that at some unspecified time he was

ambivalent about middle class values. It is therefore not possible to obtain the kind of data,

which would be required for an adequate test of the theory since the psychological

characteristics of the originators of the delinquent subcultures are not determinable by

existing data. Therefore, the theory is impossible to test.

They also argue that the theory is ambiguous concerning the relationship between

explanations that account for the emergence of the subculture, and the conditions necessary

for its continued persistence or its maintenance. They have no objection to a plausible

explanation that cannot be tested, if it is viewed as a heuristic device for generating

hypotheses. But that the theory cannot also be used this way because Cohen does not deal

with "what are the necessary conditions for the maintenance of delinquent subcultures?"

Does Cohen's theory imply that the maintenance of the subculture is not wholly dependent

upon the motivational structure, which originally gave rise to it? That is, that some (an

undetermined percentage) of lower class adolescents must (at some undetermined time) have
been status frustrated, but once that the subculture emerged from these conditions, that it

could recruit membership sufficiently to persist even though there no longer existed

individuals in the working class who were status frustrated? That is, once a group is in

existence, it could draw from a range of motivations that then makes it independent of the

forces that may have originally given rise to it.

Kitsuse and Dietrick believe that its theoretical significance has to lie in the theories

relevance for explaining the persistence of the subculture. Were this not so, they argue, the

theory would be dismissed merely as plausible but not testable, or as incapable of generating

hypothesis about regularities other than the pre-existing facts which it explains. They believe

Cohen creates a dilemma by divorcing the dynamics of its origin from the dynamics of its

maintenance, since the former does not require the same motivational dynamics. The

ambiguity lies in the statement that some participants must have the characteristic

motivational structure posited in his theory. Theoretically, the dynamics of emergence are

either (a) independent of or (b) dependent in some unspecified way on the dynamics for

maintenance.

Thus they conclude Cohen must specify his theory more precisely so these questions

can be answered, and if he is divorcing the dynamics of emergence from those of

maintenance of the subculture, then the theory is impossible to test.

Their comments can be summarized as follows: (a) There are logical contradictions

and circularity in Cohen's arguments, (b) The theory is ambiguous concerning the

relationship between the conditions which contribute to the emergence of the subculture, and

those which are essential to its maintenance, (c) That if these dynamics are totally divorced

from each other that the methodological basis of the theory then renders it inherently

untestable, (d) In order for the theory to be useful, some specification needs to be made about

the dynamics of persistence of the subculture, and (e) The theory is not supported sufficiently

by fact. This will be explored in more depth.

Empirical support for Cohen's theory: This will be examined in several areas.
 Existence of the subculture: The first question that looms important is whether or not

the type of subculture described by Cohen exists in American society. Cohen cites studies

showing delinquency is a social phenomenon, i.e., it is undertaken with others, and a few

examples of statements and deeds of delinquents are cited. These are hardly convincing

evidence of the existence of the particular type of subculture, which he has postulated. If no

examples of this type of subculture can be found, then the theory, of course, is of no value.

Cohen does not specify the number of such gangs in existence or their proportion in

the total number of working class gangs. This has led some critics to charge Cohen with

assuming a homogeneity among delinquent gangs that does not exist. Cloward and Ohlin's

(1960) critique of Cohen was that he failed to take into account subcultural variation among

delinquent gangs.

Others have charged that the type of subculture described by Cohen is non-existent.

Cohen presents little empirical data on the value orientations of the gangs with which he is

concerned. Kitsuse and Dietrick (1959) question Cohen's depiction of the gang culture as do

Miller (1958), Yablonsky (1962), and Cloward and Ohlin (1960). The question is one of the

"goodness of fit" between Cohen's description and empirical studies of the value orientations

of delinquent gangs. Studies of selected gangs, have not on the whole, been supportive of

Cohen's description (See Gordon et al, 1963, Reiss & Rhodes 1961, Miller, 1966).

Due to the serious limitations of the research conducted on the value structures of

delinquent gangs, and the sometimes contradictory conclusions or interpretations which are

possible of the results of these studies, supporters of Cohen's theory argue a case can be made

for the existence of such subcultures merely by an inspection of the deeds reported daily in

the newspapers, if nothing else.

Content of the Subculture: Does Cohen's theory account for the form and content of

the subculture? Cohen argues that the content of (non-utilitarianism, maliciousness, and

negativism) is to be accounted for as a reaction against middle class values, which allow those

persons injured to break free of the influence of this morality by adopting the opposite, and
at the same time it legitimates the expression of hostility toward the source of the frustration.

Distribution of the Subcultures: (1) The greater frequency of gang delinquency among

males: Cohen asserts that pressures for delinquency arise from the social structure, and are

related to roles individuals occupy within that structure. Because the roles occupied by males

and females differ, it is to be expected that the resultant pressures toward deviance would also

differ. Males are under greater pressure to achieve occupationally than females, and

therefore are more likely to experience status frustration, which in turn increases the

likelihood of delinquent subcultures arising among males.

2. Differences between male and female delinquency: Cohen asserts that the pressures

differ not only in degree, but also in kind. Since the DSC is a response to a specific problem,

it is to be expected that a difference in the nature of problems confronted by persons would

produce a difference in the type of response, that is, female delinquency is motivated by a

different set of problems. Part of the difference lies in the nature of the problems experienced

by males and females and the different avenues available to them for upward mobility. In so

far as solutions have to be somewhat compatible with other roles, age and sex roles limit

possible solutions to problems. Since many patterns of delinquency are regarded as

essentially masculine, it would be problematic for the female's sexual identity to engage in

such behavior, even if the pressures were similar to those experienced by males. In addition,

avenues for upward mobility for females are through sexual attractiveness and marriage.

This, Cohen argues, leads to pressures toward increased sexuality, both instrumentally to

obtain males, and flauntingly to exhibit disdain for middle class morals.

3. Delinquent gangs are most commonly found among adolescents because

adolescence is precisely the time the pressures toward achievement would be the most salient

since this is the period of transition to the adult role where the status of the family is left

behind and one's own status is assumed primarily through the individual's occupation.

4. Delinquent gangs are more frequently found in the lower class because it is precisely

the lower class individual who is most likely to be frustrated in regard to status achievement.
 5. Rates of gang delinquency are higher in urban than rural areas: In order for a

subcultural solution to the problem of status deprivation to develop, Cohen argues that

sufficient numbers of persons who share similar problems of adjustment and who have

opportunities for effective interaction would be required. It is the cities that provide large

concentrations of working class persons in highly dense geographical areas that foster the

development of a subculture. In addition, status differentials may be higher in urban areas

where there is greater exposure to middle class worlds, which may cause increased frustration

among the working class.

6. Rates of gang delinquency are higher in certain sectors of the city; this results

because cities are spatially segregated into economic areas, and the areas with the highest

rates would be, according to Cohen, where heavy concentrations of the working class reside,

as they are the ones subject to the greatest status deprivation. He does not explain

differences between ethnic groups and gang subcultures.

7. Rates of delinquency increase during prosperity: Cohen might argue that during

these periods of prosperity, individuals in the middle class are more concerned with status,

since economic needs are more likely being met. Thus during these periods goods would be

more likely to be displayed more ostentatiously, which may serve to increase the relative

deprivation of the working class individual. Also in times of prosperity all members do not

benefit equally or advance at the same rate. Thus status differentials can become aggravated.

The disparity between goals and accessibility becomes heightened and status deprivation

could be expected to increase under these conditions, especially if the differentials between

the classes become greater during periods of prosperity.

Cohen's explanation is consistent with the data on the distribution of the subculture.

However, consistency, again, does not constitute proof.

Some critics have questioned the very statistics of delinquency upon which Cohen

bases his theory. The statistics Cohen cites are for overall rates of delinquency, and are not

broken down by type of delinquency. He merely assumes the distribution of gang

delinquency is identical to overall rates of delinquency. His assumption that they are may be

questionable. Furthermore, there is no specifically refined data as to the distribution of the

particular pattern of gang delinquency in which Cohen is interested.

Others are also critical of Cohen's use of official statistics since many believe they do

not reflect the actual rate of delinquent behavior. What official statistics reflect are the

activities of the police and courts more than the actual occurrence of delinquent acts.

Chambliss’ (1973) study indicated working class gang activity is more likely to be officially

processed by the police than middle class gang activity. Studies of self-reported delinquent

behavior, Cohen’s critics argue, show much less variation between the classes than what is

reflected in "official statistics". This criticism will be examined later.

Empirical Support for Specific Propositions in Cohen's Theory:

A key assumption upon which Cohen's theory depends is that some portion of the

working class does internalize middle class values or aspirations. The important question is

whether the working class boy is sensitive to the middle class expectations and evaluations,

and to what degree would his sensitivity result in a problem of adjustment if unable to attain

those values. Kitsuse and Dietrick (1959) state that Cohen's argument that working class

adolescents aspire to middle class status is unconvincing. Indeed, they suggest that Cohen's

own statements about working class socialization lend support to the contrary view. Class

differences, especially the strong dependence of the working class adolescent upon his peers,

serve to insulate him from middle class evaluations.

Cohen supports his position by citing studies that demonstrate that working class

adolescents do exhibit internalization of middle class values. One such study cited by Cohen

reported on survey data on value orientations of adolescents. Two findings of that study,

Cohen argues, support his theory: First, there were overall differences between the two

classes in their modal values. Second, a significant portion of the working class adolescents

evidenced middle class values. These findings support the original class differences in values

Cohen's theory postulates, and his assumption that a significant segment of the working class
do internalize and aspire to middle class values.

The question of the extent and degree of frustration is not explored in these studies,

and whether delinquents were drawn from those most thwarted in their aspirations remains

unanswered and perhaps unanswerable. At what point in the history of the community did

the reaction to middle class values emerge? Many areas in London and the United States

have long traditions of high delinquency before the middle class emerged as a dominant

feature of industrialized society. The question of cross cultural comparison also becomes

important, since gangs have arisen in non-western cultures as well, such as the Soviet Union,

Japan, and China, which are not characterized by "middle class protestant" values. Are the

gangs of a different character, or are the problems of upward mobility also characteristic of

those societies?

Alternative Explanations to Cohen’s Theory: One way to sharpen the theory is to

contrast it with alternative explanations.

1. Psychological Theories: Cohen takes the position that individualistic and

psychological explanations are inadequate. Common sense psychological explanations which

explain delinquency on the basis that these "kids just don't know right from wrong" or

"they lack a moral sense" are inadequate because they fail to recognize that it is not the

result of a lack of morality, but a different morality which prevails, and the delinquents do

feel guilt for violating their own codes. In fact, it is the existence of such codes, which create

the delinquency in that subculture; anti-social behavior is required by the norms. Even if the

person would wish to be law abiding, they would be fearful or reluctant to violate gang codes

that require, on some occasions, antisocial behavior.

2. Social Disorganization Theory: Social disorganization theory proposes that

delinquency flourishes in the interstitial areas of large cities. These areas are inhabited by

heterogeneous, economically depressed, and mobile populations who have no permanent

stake in the community. These populations lack the solidarity, community spirit, motivation,
and residential stability necessary for social organization to develop on a neighborhood basis

required for the effective control of delinquency.

Cohen's critique of that theory is that research reveals most slums and interstitial

areas are by no means lacking in social organization. These areas do not present the picture

of chaos and heterogeneity described in the literature. On the contrary, a vast network of

informal relations can be identified, and although somewhat lacking in community spirit,

these are not the jungles they are characterized to be. Secondly, even if this were true, the

approach is wholly negativistic. That is, it accounts for the presence of the delinquent

subculture in terms of the absence of constraints, and leaves open the question of the origin

of the delinquency itself. It also ignores the question of the spirit and content of the

delinquent subculture.

Another form of the social disorganization theory assumes that moral vacuums result

from situations where there are competing or conflicting cultural standards which present a

confusing cultural matrix to the individual. This theory characterizes high delinquency areas

as those exhibiting considerable mobility and cultural diversity. Diverse ethnic groups have

diverse and incongruent standards and thus exhibit little cultural unity. In this welter of

conflicting moral standards, the person becomes confused and bewildered. Subject to

conflicting standards, the individual accepts none and assimilates none. He develops no

respect for the legal order because it is not supported by his cultural values.

Cohen criticizes this theory by stating that even though there is a wide range of

variability among ethnic groups across the United States, the patterns of delinquency remain

quite similar. Why should these vacuums or confusions be filled by similar responses across

diverse situations? Furthermore, even if there are gaps in the moral fabric, the problem

remains of why the individuals fill these gaps in the ways they do? The delinquent

subculture is not a fund of blind amoral "natural" impulses that inevitably well up in the

absence of a socially approved code of behavior. On the contrary, it is a positive code, a code

that requires a positive explanation.

 3. Illicit Means Theory: The theory assumes that the society indoctrinates individuals

with desires for wealth, status, power, goods, etc. However, the means for achieving these

goals in socially acceptable ways are not equally available to all citizens. Those individuals

who lack access to legitimate means are under pressure to employ illegitimate means.

Cohen argues that because so much of the gangs' stealing and other delinquent

activities are non-utilitarian in character, that it questions the underlying assumption of the

desired goals. The disrespect for property and the negativistic character of the subculture

also question that these acts are merely illicit means to the same socially desired goals valued

throughout the rest of the society.

4. Miller's Culture Conflict Theory: Walter Miller (1958) proposed a theory that

asserts that a conflict between middle and lower class culture is what is responsible for the

greater frequency of delinquency among lower class youths. His position is that there is no

specifically "delinquent" subculture that is oriented toward the deliberate violation of middle

class norms, but that the delinquent activities of these youths are a direct outgrowth of

"working class" culture.

Miller, like Cohen, assumes the working class has a distinctive culture with its own

integrity that is different from that of the middle class. However, Miller restricts his attention

to what he describes as the "hard core" of the working class, which is characterized by: (a) a

"female based" household, and (b) "serial monogamy". While this segment constitute less

than a third of the lower class, its culture in various degrees can be found manifest

throughout the working class in varying degrees. Even within this narrowly circumscribed

group, several subtypes of working class culture can be identified which vary in their

emphasis on weighting of the various components of the culture.

Miller utilizes the concept of "focal concern" instead of "value" because: (1) he feels it

is a less abstract concept which is more closely related to actual observations of behavior

which can be made, (2) there are a range of possible dimensions along which issues can be

contrasted with respect to a concern, but only the singular aspect of positive valence for a
value, and (3) concerns can be compared at a covert and at an overt level which permits an

analysis of possible contradictions that are not as likely to emerge when analyzed through the

concept of value.

The "focal concerns" of the working class include a concern with "trouble". On the

one hand, "staying out of trouble" may be a very important reason for conforming to the

law, more so than a belief in the rightness or morality of a particular law. On the other hand,

"getting into trouble" can be a status conferring activity for some segments of the working

class, in the same fashion that "staying out of trouble can be status conferring in the upper

echelons of the working class. Another focal concern is with "toughness". Physical prowess, a

lack of sentimentality and the sexual conquest of women signify toughness and masculinity

within the working class, which Miller explains as a reaction to the female dominated

household. "Smartness" involves a capacity to outwit, dupe or "con" others, and also

confers status upon individuals. The quest for "excitement", frequently involving alcohol,

gambling, and sexual conquest, is a pre-occupation among this segment of our society. Life is

interpreted in terms of fate or luck, which either one has or lacks, and which accounts for his

fortunes, and which reflects a conception of having little control over one's life. Autonomy is

highly valued at an overt level, yet covertly, lower class individuals frequently seek out

control. Miller asserts individuals frequent return to prisons results from a desire for external

controls, even though the individual may complain about the restriction of his autonomy.

These concerns are embodied in the culture of the hard-core lower class, and are

reflected in the age-graded peer groups that emerge as natural units within that class. The

desire to "belong" and to obtain "status" within these groups, results in this lower class

culture coming to have great salience for the adolescent. Conforming to these norms (getting

in trouble, toughness, smartness, etc.) of his reference group brings him into conflict with the

norms of other groups (i.e. middle class, adults, "officials", etc.) in terms of which he may be

judged delinquent. To engage in these activities is to be delinquent. The conflict is between

working class culture and the laws reflecting middle class culture. Due to the fact that
immediate reference groups are more compelling in their demands because of the possible

exclusion and other sanctions they can impose upon the individual in his day-to-day life, he

engages in behavior that would be judged, by other standards, as "delinquent". Adherence

to these values also serves to establish an intra-group hierarchy, where those who conform

most to these standards receive the most status and recognition within the group.

Why these specific standards or "focal concerns" develop within the working class, is

given less attention by Miller. He suggests some possible reasons for their development. One

was that a strong desire for attaining "adult" status, which is defined in terms of a car, ready

cash, drinking and gambling, is a significant factor in creating involvement in illegal

drinking, driving, gambling, etc. Another consideration Miller offers casually is that illegal

acts may be a more efficient way to obtain desired ends. Yet a third factor in shaping the

character and degree of illegal behavior is the expectations and salience of different reference

groups such as professional criminals, the police, the clergy, teachers, adults, in the

immediate community which may tilt the value system in one direction or another as a

consequence of competing social demands.

Thus the conflict between lower and middle class culture creates a situation where

dictates of the lower class culture can bring the lower class adolescent into direct conflict with

the laws which reflect the values and ethics of the middle or upper class or "officials".

A comparison of Cohen and Miller's theories suggest they both see delinquency as

sub-cultural behavior largely mediated by the peer group. They differ in their explanations

as to the origin of the peer group culture. Miller asserts the peer group culture is nothing

more than a reflection of hard-core working class culture. Whereas Cohen postulates a

distinctive delinquent subculture that is not merely a reflection of working class culture, but

emerges out of the working class adolescent's reactions to his inability to attain middle class

status.

Cohen might agree that some delinquency may result from conflicting class standards,

but he argues that there is an extensive range of the gang's behavior (extreme violence,
murder, etc.) which is also disapproved as strongly by other working class persons in the

same neighborhoods, which he suggests question the very tenants of Miller's theory.

Furthermore, Cohen argues, that the lengths to which gang members go to flaunt social

taboos do not merely reflect a difference in values or standards, but a deliberate assault and

attempt to repudiate the values of the other group. It is here that Cohen introduces the

controversial concept of "reaction formation" which is often mistakenly led his critiques to

charge him with psychological reductionism. What Cohen is suggesting is that the social

processes that emerge in the formation of the new cultural forms are analogous in the sense

that the failure in obtaining middle class values is lessened by group definitions which value

their opposite. The "flaunting" quality of their behavior (which Kitsuse and Dietrick have

argued is judgmental on Cohen's part) is reflective a defensiveness rather than just a

difference. Miller's response is that the characterization of this working class culture as an

active repudiation of middle class values is a result of taking the middle class community and

its institutions as an implicit point of reference and standard for judging behavior. The non-

conformity is only a byproduct of conforming to different standards.

The questions still left unanswered by Millers theory center around his inadequate

explanation of the origin of the subculture. Why does the attainment of adult status involve

committing illegal acts? Is this the result of the adolescent’s inability to obtain the wealth to

perform these roles or the power to engage in this behavior, and if true, why should this also

not be a problem for the youth of other classes also? Also his explanation that illegal acts are

more efficient for the lower class to obtain desired goals, why would this be less true for the

middle class or even the upper class. It is necessary to introduce other considerations if his

argument is to have any weight. Also his third factor, competing reference groups, only

assumes a criminal orientation in closer proximity to the working class adolescent, but does

not explain why it is there to begin with. Lastly it does not account for the lower class non-

delinquent.

5. Sykes and Matza's Techniques of Neutralization. Sykes and Matza (1957) suggest
that whereas Sutherland focused primarily on the process rather than the content of the

learning, Cohen's theory is explicitly oriented toward the content of the delinquent

subculture. Cohen sees the world of law abiding turned upside down where the delinquent

norms constitute a countervailing force directed against the social order. Thus the DSC exists

by opposition and stands as a point-by-point contradiction to the dominant values. They

believe Cohen's image of juvenile delinquency suffers from numerous faults.

They argue that if delinquent behavior truly arose from a set of norms, which defines

the delinquent behavior as morally correct, then the individual would not be expected to feel

quilt or shame at their actions. Rather they would be expected to respond with indignation

and martyrdom.

But Sykes and Matza argue there is considerable evidence that delinquents do

experience guilt and shame, and are not hardened "gangsters in miniature". Secondly, that

the delinquent values honesty and recognizes the moral validity of the dominant normative

system which is reflected in his respect for a revered mother or priest which embody such

values. Thirdly, that because some persons are excluded as possible victims and other targets

implies that the devaluated groups hint at their perception of the wrongfulness of their

behavior. And lastly, they are not immune from demands for conformity by the dominant

moral order from parents or even their own internalized demands.

Thus Sykes and Matza argue that the delinquents do not completely deny the moral

claims of respectable society and substitute new ones as Cohen would have us believe, or have

a totally different morality as Miller (1958) suggests. On the contrary, middle class morality

has to be dealt with and temporized or neutralized in such a way as to handle the guilt that

would be felt if one violated such standards. Sykes and Matza then proceed to describe the

various defense mechanisms or "techniques of neutralization" that are employed by

delinquents that exempt them from moral culpability for their actions. Their point is that

these would be unnecessary if the delinquent had his own standards of right and wrong. The

existence of these techniques question the autonomy of the lower class standards postulated
by Miller and demonstrates the lack of independence of the DSC from middle class morality

as postulated by Cohen.

Their theory suggests that how these external and internal demands for conformity

are dealt with, is crucial for understanding delinquency. Their explanation begins by viewing

social rules not as categorical imperatives that are universally applied, but as qualified guides

for action, which must be specified as to time, place or situation, and persons before they can

be applied. It is this flexibility of interpretation and application of the rules that opens the

door for delinquent actions. As the law exempts persons from blame under some

circumstances (i.e., justifiable homicide), so delinquents extend this normal process of

avoiding moral culpability and hence the negative sanctions that would result from their

actions. These techniques protect the individual from self-blame as well as blame from others.

This neutralization of moral imperatives opens the door for deviant or delinquent

behavior. The social controls, which serve to check deviance, are rendered inoperative. But

the delinquent only tempers morality, and does not break with it. The delinquent can remain

committed to social norms while at the same time define his illegal behavior as acceptable.

Delinquency is not a radical opposition to law breaking, but an apologetic failure or a re-

interpretation of the law that develops. Thus the delinquency is based on avoiding moral

culpability for one's actions.

Sykes and Matza describe 5 techniques of neutralization: (1) Denial of Responsibility

reduces the possibility of disapproval by others by asserting responsibility lies in forces

outside the individual's control such as the family or a bad environment which therefore

serves to deflect the blame from himself. (2) Denial of Injury questions the wrongfulness or

harm of the behavior judged to be delinquent. (3) Denial of the Victim interprets the act as

something that is rightly due the victim, so that the victim is transformed into the wrongdoer.

(4) Condemnation of the Condemners involves a shift of attention from the individuals’

deviant acts to the wrongfulness of others in society. (5) Appeals to Higher Loyalties justify

deviant acts because the demands of the larger society are sacrificed to the claims of
friendship and the smaller groups of which the individual is a member. Here the norms are

not rejected, but because other norms have more pressing claims they can be suspended.

These techniques, according to Sykes and Matza, are critical in lessening the effectiveness of

social controls.

To make their theory more complete, they suggest that further investigation needs to

be conducted on the distribution of such techniques within the social structure. For example,

are those groups where the discrepancy between social ideals and social practice is highest,

the places where such ideologies emerge? Also how are the techniques related to the specific

patterns of delinquency?

It is not clear whether Sykes and Matza are offering a modification of existing theories

or a new theory that is on its own sufficient to account for delinquency. With respect to their

criticisms of Cohen and Miller's theories, there is the question of whether both Cohen and

Miller's theories really depend on a wholesale rejection or difference from middle class

culture. Obviously some aspects of morality pervades most social classes, such as

prohibitions of cannibalism, incest, etc., and evidence that there is the presence of such

elements among delinquents is not a convincing argument for their lack of difference on other

issues. New subcultures are never created from whole cloth as delinquents use knives and

forks, speak English, etc., and exhibit many other similarities with the larger culture. In

addition, agents of the larger society continually intrude their evaluations upon delinquents,

so that some ideology that takes into account other groups demands for conformity develops.

The statements of guilt and remorse may also be generated to avoid punishment once they

are apprehended or lenience in their treatment. Furthermore, even if genuine guilt existed,

Cohen's argument depends upon the lower class adolescent having internalized middle class

values; therefore guilt and conflict would be expected as the residues of the previously

internalized middle class values.

Another problem in Sykes and Matza's theory is the failure to consider some of the

implications of Sutherland's theory of differential association. Sutherland assumes that most

individuals are exposed to both criminal and anti-criminal definitions of the situation, and

only when there is an excess of criminal definitions does crime result. Therefore, it is likely

that one can find some law abiding definitions in even the most "hardened" criminal, who

may also revere motherhood and country, exclude some persons as victims, and justify their

behavior in the same terms conventional persons employ. This does not preclude a different

morality in other areas, as Sykes and Matza would suggest. Sutherland, recognizing the

possibility of both types of internalization existing, and the possible attacks by the respectable

society on the alien morality, stresses the importance of learning "rationalizations" as an

integral part of the content of the learning. Sykes and Matza assume this aspect of the

learning has to come prior to the delinquency to neutralize the norms before such delinquent

behavior can occur. Others might argue the reverse that these rationalizations are learned to

legitimate the individual's already existing delinquent standards or develop as defenses when

others attack these standards. What Sykes and Matza fail to account for is why the

delinquent patterns develop at all, why is there a need to justify or neutralizing the claims of

certain norms upon their actions? They have no explanation for the motivation to engage in

the law breaking behavior, which itself has to be rationalized. Also their argument that these

are not rationalizations or justifications of delinquent acts after the fact, is not supported by

evidence.

6. Yablonsky's "Near Group Theory". Yablonsky (1962) proposed a theory

suggesting that there are no gangs in the ordinary sense of those terms, but merely "near

groups". He argues that at best, the "gangs" loosely organized collections of individuals who

belong for a variety of personal and highly individualized reasons. Furthermore, their anti-

social or illegal actions are directed by a small core of sociopaths who have the ability to

manipulate these persons into acting out their own pathological desires.

The sociological naiveté of such a position is clear. First, the question which

Yablonsky addresses is one which neither Cohen nor Miller concerns themselves--that is, the

degree of organization of the gang. One would assume that is a variable, and look for the
factors that would influence this aspect of the subculture. Second, the assumption that there

are sociopaths standing on all the corners of slum neighborhoods throughout the United

States waiting to organize these loose collections of potential followers to act out their

pathological desires for violence, strains the imagination. This theory is contradicted by

numerous studies of gangs, which show a good deal of organization, role differentiation, strict

membership criteria, rituals of indoctrination, and continuity over generations. That these

gangs develop similar standards and cultural patterns contradicts Yablonsky's explanation.

7. Labeling Theory: This position questions the validity of the "official" statistics

upon which Cohen bases his theory, and suggests the possibility that there may be no real

differences in the actual frequency of delinquent behavior among the classes, but that

because of selective enforcement by agencies of social control and the different standards

applied in judging delinquency, that this results in a higher official rate of delinquency in the

working class.

Such factors as the heavy concentration of police in working class areas increase

opportunities for arrest. Or even when cases of probable delinquency are identified, working

class cases are more likely to be handled officially and middle class cases handled unofficially

(Chamblis, 1973) and thus are not reflected in the official statistics. These and other factors

will be explored more fully in a detailed examination of labeling theory. At this point,

sufficient to suggest that some critics of Cohen's theory suggest that "official statistics" are

mostly artifacts of the way the systems of social control operate in the community.

Summary: The criticisms raised, and the possible conflicting interpretations of the

data with which Cohen is concerned raise some important questions that must be answered

before any further conclusions can be reached with respect to the theory. Cohen's theory

would make certain predictions about the changing patterns of delinquency as a consequence

of changes, which may be occurring in both the middle class and the female’s role in the

society which can provide an opportunity to further test the theory. Cohen's theory has

attracted much attention from both supporters and critics. The few studies that have been
undertaken question Cohen's description of the subculture and several of his assumptions.

Cloward and Ohlin have attempted to modify Cohen's analysis along several lines and have

had a very important impact. Their theory will be explored shortly. Has American society

and the character of gang culture changed in the last fifty years in a way that makes Cohen’s

theory less relevant today?

Application of Cohen's Theory to Control of Delinquency: Assuming Cohen's theory

is correct, there would be several avenues open if one were concerned with controlling

delinquency. (1) One solution is to "close" the socially structured gaps. That is, make

opportunities more realistically attainable for working class persons. In some areas of the

community less than 70% of students graduate high school. This may take the form of

changing the culture of the working class to become more like that of the middle class so that

working class adolescents would be more able to compete successfully. Programs to re-

socialize working class children such as Head Start, train middle class teachers to be more

responsive to the needs of working class children, and similar approaches would reflect this

avenue of possibilities. (2) Another direction is to change the values of the middle class to be

more accepting of cultural differences, and insulate the working class from middle class

values. That is, re-emphasize working class values in the society and schools so that they are

not encouraged to compete for middle class recognition. (3) Still another approach would be

to change the norms of the delinquent gangs by the use of social workers or street workers

who would attempt to modify the values and cultures of gangs. (4) Alternatively, one could

attempt to modify the values of the middle class in a more humanistic direction, perhaps de-

emphasizing materialism and renewed emphasis on the worth of every person in society. (5)

A more radical solution would be to abolish classes altogether and eliminate social

inequalities. These would follow from Cohen's theory, although this is not to imply that they

are equally practicable or that the society would pay the costs that might be involved in

reducing delinquency.

Cohen's theory is grounded in functionalism: Cohen takes for granted the reality of social
structure and its ability to limit opportunities in society, and identifies the importance of

norms and values in social behavior and the reality of the social structure of the gang, all of

which reflect the tradition of functional analysis. In addition, he explains the origin of the

DSC in terms of the functions it fulfills for the members. Their behavior is also norm

governed and that it conflicts with the norms of the larger conventional society aligns it

squarely with Sutherland's analysis. However, in his analysis of the social processes involved

in transforming and creating a new subculture, he incorporates aspects of symbolic

interactionism.

Comparison of Cohen and Sutherland's Theories

1) Both Cohen and Sutherland agree that delinquency is a socially acquired pattern of

behavior and a product of learning social roles.

2) Sutherland's theory is concerned with explaining the manner in which the deviant

cultural patterns are acquired--the process of cultural transmission. Cohen's theory neglects

the process of socialization into the delinquent subculture, but is compatible with

Sutherland's or any other theory of socialization for that matter.

3) Sutherland and Cohen differ in their emphasis on where the learning occurs.

Cohen limits his consideration to the delinquent gang. He does not specifically concern

himself with the problem of differential susceptibility of induction into the subculture, other

than his consideration of status deprivation. Why one person rather than another joins the

gang is a problem left unexplored by Cohen, in the same fashion that Sutherland does not

explore why a person has the associations he does. Some families may insulate the adolescent

from the peer culture; however, Cohen does not explore this question. Sutherland also

emphasizes the importance of intimate groups, but these groups could include the family as

sources of delinquent definitions. What Sutherland considers, which Cohen does not, is the

relative balance of criminal versus anti-criminal definitions. Thus an historical perspective is

important to understanding the impact of the gang culture on the individual and would be

required for Sutherland's analysis.

 5) Neither Sutherland nor Cohen deals with the question of why the gang, or

associations, comes to have salience for the individual.

6) Both see the underlying cause of deviance in the existence of conflicting cultural

definitions or culture conflict. Whereas Sutherland assumes criminal definitions existing in

the culture, Cohen takes these as problematical and tries to explain the origin of deviant

norms, the content of those norms, and why they are distributed in the social order in

particular manners. Cohen fills an important gap in Sutherland's theory, the origin of

criminal definitions of the situation.

Thus we see that the theories are complimentary rather than conflicting with one

another. Each of the theories addresses different problems. Cohen is concerned with the

origin of deviant norms in society and Sutherland with how those norms get transmitted

within the society. Each theory meshes with the other, although they are logically

independent. Cohen's theory could be false and Sutherland's true or vice versa or both

correct.

At this point we shall examine a theorist who formulated in a more general fashion

the relationship between the social structure and deviant patterns of behavior upon which

Cohen's analysis is based. This central figure is Robert Merton (1938) and his theory of

Anomie, which tried to identify how the malintegration of cultural values and social structure

can create pressures for individuals to engage in non-conforming behavior. Cohen's theory of

delinquent gangs can be seen as a specific application of Merton's theory of Anomie.

Merton's theory is broader in that he focuses on individual as well as subcultural patterns of

deviance.

SOCIETAL PRESSURES TOWARD DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

Merton's Theory of Anomie

In 1938, Robert Merton, in a seminal article entitled "Social Structure and Anomie",

outlined what was later destined to become the most widely known and single most
influential theory in the sociology of deviance for the past half century. Merton (1968)

extended and elaborated his theory in later works, but its essential elements remain in tact

even today.

Merton's theory, which draws heavily from Durkheim's work on suicide, focuses

attention on the role of the social structure in generating deviant behavior. Heretofore,

deviance was primarily regarded as an outgrowth of the failure of the social structure to

sufficiently restrain the individual's impulses--a breakdown in social control. The roots of

deviance were believed lodged in the original biological nature of man. And unless these anti-

social impulses were sufficiently checked by the social structure, deviance would result.

Merton argued that the social structure could play a more extended role than merely

restraining deviant impulses already existing in individuals. He believed that social

structures could directly produce motivation to deviate from social norms. He argued that

some unknown but substantial portion of deviant behavior represents socially induced

deviations—deviations, which the culture and social organization conjoin to produce. His

theory attempts to explain how social structures can exert pressures on individuals to engage

in non-conforming behavior. In the same way that social forces can cause pressures to

conform to societal norms, social forces can be generated to induce people to act contrary to

the norms in society.

STRAIN THEORY: Merton's theory is described as "strain" theory because it postulates an

underlying cause of deviance is traced to the social pressures resulting from the mal-

integration of parts of society. Thus the integration of the social system is critical in the

optimal functioning of society according to functionalism. Specifically the values are made

less attainable for some by the patterns of social interaction i.e., the social structure. Focus

on the barriers created by the social structure to attaining goals, has also been referred to as

"opportunity theory."

A). The Purpose of Merton's Theory: The intent of Merton's theory is to explain how

social structures can exert pressures on individuals to engage in non-conforming behavior.

Merton's main concern was to explain the differences in frequencies of deviant behavior

between various societies and between groups within the same society, and to identify

differences in patterns and forms of deviance within those groups. Thus Merton's theory is

oriented toward explaining variation in rates of deviant behavior rather than individual

incidence as in Sutherland's theory. It also encompasses individual as well as collective forms

of deviance.

The theory purports to explain: (a) differences in the overall rates of deviant behavior

across societies, (b) differences between groups within the same society, (c) changes in the

rates of deviance in the society over time, and (d) differences in patterns and forms that non-

conformity will assume.

B) Description of the Theory: Basically Merton's theory asserts that deviant or non-

conforming behavior results from strains in the social structure which create pressures for

individuals exposed to them to engage in non-conforming behavior. Thus, non-conforming

behavior is a "normal" (expected) response to "abnormal" social pressures, which are to be

found within that society,

The theory can be broken down into three main aspects: (a) The nature of "anomie",

(b) The causes of anomie, and (c) possible responses to or consequences of anomie.

(a) The Nature of Anomie: Anomie was a concept proposed by Durkheim (1897) in his

analysis of suicide that referred to a state of "normlessness", or more correctly, a state of

"deregulation" by the norms. The primary factor causing anomie according to Durkheim

was rapid social change, particularly manifest in the transition towards industrialization.

Durkheim's use of the concept was also more restrictive than Merton's, as he used the term

deregulation to specifically to refer to a breakdown in the norms ability to regulate the

aspirations of members in the society. Merton used the term anomie to refer to inability of

norms to regulate conduct.

Durkheim argued that often biological needs tended to include regulatory

mechanisms whereby individuals could reach satiation points. But that this was not true for
socially derived needs. Thus, after society had induced individuals to desire social goals or

rewards, if the society failed to regulate the individual's appetites or aspirations at the same

time, the net result would be that individuals would experience perpetual dissatisfactions and

frustration as a consequence of pursuing limitless or basically insatiable needs or desires.

Society must therefore restrict the individual's appetite to what is realistically attainable in

order for persons to be relatively content with their lot in life. If society fails to regulate these

socially created appetites, it condemns the individual to an intolerable life of continual

frustration in pursuing satisfactions that can never be fully realized. Thus norms also serve

to regulate or cap individual’s aspirations. Deregulation was caused by social change,

particularly industrialization. Durkheim also raised a more radical question with respect to

the causes of anomie: "do materialistic goals themselves create insatiable greed that may

arise from the very nature of capitalism that will be an unending source of frustration?"

Merton's use of anomie is somewhat different as he directs attention to the norms

inability to regulate an individual's behavior, not just their aspirations, and sees this

condition resulting from an anomaly of integration of goals and means in society, rather than

a consequence of materialistic goals or rapid social change as in the case of Durkheim.

The significant underlying factor in inducing non-conformity, for Merton, is a

breakdown or weakening of the social norm, which regulates conduct in the society.

Deviance results from a breakdown in moral order. Moral order is created and sustained by

social norms. Thus deviance is a result of the breakdown in the norm's ability to regulate

behavior or a breakdown in morality. Non-conformity increases, as the power of the norm to

regulate behavior decreases. Because the rules are less binding upon the members, non-

conformity increases, one would assume, in direct proportion as the decrease in the salience

of the expectations of others.

Merton, like most functionalists, sees social order as based on common norms, values

and social expectations, and society as a regulating force, which defines and controls the goal-

seeking behavior of people. When these common understandings, such as definitions of right
and wrong are weakened, predictability of others behavior is lessened, and social

disorganization manifest in deviance or non-conformity, increases. A weakening of the norms

and morality paves the way for deviance to develop. The first step toward deviant behavior

is the weakening of the norms to control conduct in the society or a decline in morality. The

second aspect of Merton's theory deals with the conditions that lead to a breakdown in the

norm's ability to regulate behavior in the society.

(b) The Causes of Anomie: As stated earlier, Merton's theory rests on the assumption that

non-conformity or deviant behavior results from strains in the social structure. The strains

that produce deviance are brought about by the relationship between two major elements of

society: culture and social structures. Culture includes the culturally defined goals people are

enjoined to pursue as well as norms that regulate the socially acceptable modes of pursuing

those goals. Social structure refers to patterns of interaction or social organization in the

group.

The first element, the culturally defined goals of the society, is lodged in the cultural

system. According to Merton, every society emphasizes certain goals, purposes or rewards,

which its members strive to attain. These provide the aspirational frame of reference for the

members. They constitute the socially valued and desired objects or states that are sought by

members in the society.

The second element is the morally proscribed means or modes of achieving these

goals; moral norms. Every society regulates acceptable modes of achieving goals for its

members. If this did not occur, a state of anarchy or a "war of all against all" would prevail

where "anything goes" and only expediency would limit considerations, and social

regulation, and hence social order, would be virtually absent. These socially proscribed

avenues for obtaining goals are embodied in the norms of the group, and are the reference

from which non-conformity is defined. These norms thus reflect the legitimate and desired

ways of pursuing cultural goals within that society. Merton conceptualizes norms as ways of

regulating the pursuit of goals in society.

 Structural strain results from one of two conditions: (1) the relative emphasis given

goals compared to means, and (2) goal disjunction, the social structural barriers to obtaining

goals.

1. Strain From Over Emphasis on Goals: Strain can result from the relative emphasis

placed in the society on the goals as compared with that placed on the means. Merton asserts

that the degree of emphasis (social rewards) the society attaches to the goals can vary

independently of the social rewards that accorded to following the means. The balance of

emphasis upon the goals with respect to the means can vary over time and across societies.

A disproportionate or exclusive emphasis on the goals or values in the society at the

expense of the institutionally appropriate means for attaining them can result in one type of

mal-integration in the society. Under this type of social mal-integration, the norms which

regulate access to these rewards and which regulates individual behavior in accordance with

moral expectations, will weaken as regulatory forces within the society. Technical or

efficiency criterion will be the only limiting considerations in human conduct, and the moral

considerations upon which social order rests will be weakened. This state can be described as

anomic mal-integration; a state of anomie prevails when the norms fail to regulate social

behavior sufficiently. Merton asserts that in an optimally functioning society that social

rewards must result from both obtaining goals and adhering to socially acceptable means.

Rewards must be distributed through both venues if deviance is to be minimized. Social

order is thus also based on the allocation of sufficient rewards in society to insure conformity.

A second polar type of mal-integration results at the other extreme where there is an

overriding emphasis on the means (ritual conformity to the norms) at the expense of

emphasis on the goals. Under these conditions original purposes are forgotten and ritualistic

adherence to institutionally proscribed conduct becomes obsessive and is of paramount

importance. This type of society lacks the flexibility required for adaptability in meeting

changing conditions. It becomes rigid and tradition bound, as a result of over conformity,

and is characterized by a lack of deviance. This is not a condition of anomie, since the norms
actively; in fact, overly regulate the behavior of members7.

Between these extremes, Merton suggests there is an optimal balance upon the goals

with respect to the means, which results in an effective equilibrium in the society. On the one

hand, there would be sufficient flexibility for social change since the norms would not bind

behavior in an ironclad fashion. And on the other hand, there is sufficient regulation by the

norms that predictability and social order are possible. The notion of equilibrium is deeply

embedded in the functional perspective. In this optimally balanced society, individuals

receive satisfactions from both the achievement of goals and satisfactions from conforming to

the institutionalized means. Success is reckoned in terms of both product and process--in

outcome and activities. According to Merton, continuing satisfaction must result from sheer

participation in a competitive order as well as from eclipsing one's competitors if the order is

to be sustained. There must be motivation and positive incentives for conformity for all

positions in the social structure, not for just those few who can obtain the desired social goals.

Underlying Merton's theory is the notion that conformity is generated by the desire for

rewards, which come from both achieving socially valued goals and conforming to social

norms.

Merton sees aberrant conduct as the result of a disassociation between culturally

defined goals and socially structured means. When goals are disproportionately emphasized,

"winning" the game will assume paramount importance over "winning by the rules". The

extreme emphasis on attaining the goal can attenuate the satisfactions derived from sheer

participation in the competitive activity such that satisfactions are virtually confined to a

successful outcome. This pressure leads to widespread illegal drug use in competitive sports

and cheating in academic settings.

In Merton's conception of social life, the individual persists in socially oriented

behavior because of the satisfactions or rewards that accrue to them. These satisfactions can

result from obtaining the desired social goals, or from positive satisfactions that result from

conforming to the norms (i.e. prestige or recognition from others). Merton argues rewards
must come from both activities in order for the society to be adequately integrated and non-

conforming behavior to be relatively low.

2. Strain From Goal Disjunction: Goal disjunction is a very important source of

malintegration and strain in society. Merton also asserts that rates of deviance will vary

within a given social order by the status of the group. Different statuses are subject to

different pressures toward deviant behavior because they experience greater strain. A

seccond strain from malintegration of goals and means is "goal disjunction" which refers to

the condition that the ability to achieve goals by legitimate means is differentially distributed

throughout a social system. In this scenario, the social structure (patterns of interaction)

represents a barrier to obtaining the social rewards sought for segments of society. Class or

patterns of discrimination can constitute such structural barriers. Thus the way society is

organized can constitute structural barriers to the achievement of goals for some individuals.

Since the distribution of deviant behavior is related to accessibility of legitimate means to

secure goals, it should be distributed in the same fashion as availability of means are lacking.

It would also be expected that there is variability of exposure to such stresses within

groups as well that make some persons more likely to engage in deviant behavior than others,

and why all individuals exposed to goal disjunction do not manifest deviant behavior;

although these issues are not rigorously explored by Merton.

Thus Merton argues the variables critical to the creation of anomie or the breakdowns

of the social norms are "over emphasis of goals" and "goal disjunction" which refers to the

inability to obtain desired social goals because of structural barriers that limits the

legitimately available means. That is, at the same time society encourages the pursuit of

certain cultural goals, the pattern of social organization or social structure impairs member's

ability to obtain these goals. Structural barriers such as social class or ethnic or gender

discrimination are the primary obstacles, which create abnormal social pressures toward

deviant behavior. However, it is most often regarded as a class-based theory.

 For example the American dream emphasizes success goals and the idea that everyone

can climb as high their abilities will take them. Yet numerous studies demonstrate strong

relationships between the social status of the family of origin (the launching pad) and the

status the individual ultimately attains. Some have described the U.S. as more like a system

of "occupational inheritance." The class system is a formidable barrier to upward mobility.

Examination of race or ethnicity also shows minorities disproportionately concentrated in the

lower socio-economic strata. These are consequences of patterns of racial discrimination.

This seems to hold true for even those minorities who receive higher education in the best

universities but who, after graduation, do not earn as much as their white counterparts.

These would be examples of goal disjunction were both class and ethnic stratification

constitute structural barriers to attaining desired social goals.

This "aspiration gap," the differences between what people aspire to and what is

realistically and legitimately available to them creates pressures for individuals to engage

non-conforming behavior. The hurt from pursuing goals that are denied you, results in

increasing tension, frustration, and anger. These are the pressures generated by

malintegration of goals and means. How individuals respond to these social pressures is the

third concern of Merton's theory.

(c) Responses or Adaptations to Mal-integration and Goal Disjunction: Modes of

adaptation are ways people find to the resolve strain resulting from malintegration of goals and

means in society. Due to their social location, some people experience greater strain and thus

are under more pressures to deviate. This aspect of Merton's theory is concerned with the

consequences of goal disjunction and possible ways of responding to these social pressures.

By juxtaposing cultural goals or ends with legitimate means or norms, Merton develops what

he regards as an exhaustive classification and typology of the possible "modes of adjustment"

or adaptation.

While his earlier typology: under, optimum, and over emphasis of goals with respect

to cultural means, was meant to characterize the overall cultural integration, this typology

refers to adaptations which are possible for the individuals within the social structure.

Merton presents five logically possible modes of adaptation that are schematically presented

in the following table.

MODES OF ADAPTATION TO GOAL DISJUNCTION

Cultural Goals Institutionalized Means

I. Conformity + +

II. Innovation + -

III. Ritualism - +

IV. Retreatism - -

V. Rebellion - -
+ +
----------------------------------------------------------------
In this table, a (+) signifies acceptance, a (-) elimination or rejection, and a (-+) signifies
rejection and substitution of new goals and standards.

These categories refer to role adjustments in specific situations and are not

characteristics of individuals who may change their adjustment patterns over time or in

different situations.

In every society, Adaptation 1 (Conformity) is the most common response. If this

were not the case, the stability and continuity of the society could not be maintained.

Conversely, Adaptation IV (Retreatism) is the least common response. These are persons

"in" but not "of" society. In this category are included suicides, some psychotics, tramps or
vagabonds, and perhaps drunkards and drug addicts. This occurs where the individual has

strongly assimilated both the goals and means, but where successful attainment of the goals is

not available to the individual.

Adaptation II (Innovation) may be undertaken by individuals where the success goal

is not available but due to inadequate socialization and internalization of the norms, are

willing to resort to other avenues of obtaining goals. On the other hand, an extreme

assimilation of institutional demands will lead to Adaptation III (Ritualism), and what were

means now have become ends. Adaptation V (Rebellion) is likely to result when

emancipation from the reigning standards due to frustration or marginality to the culture

leads to attempts to introduce a "new social order" with new goals and means.

In summary, anomie can result from two basic causes: (1) malintegration resulting

from an over emphasis of the goals at the expense of the norms, and (2) malintegration

resulting from barriers created by the social structure preventing access to the goals. Both

result in inadequate satisfaction or deprivation in participating in the social structure. The

social structure, which extols certain goals, yet systematically blocks opportunity to achieve

these goals through legitimate avenues, creates pressures for deviant behavior. The

consequences of such structural inconsistency are: (a) psycho-pathological personality, (b)

anti-social conduct, and (c) revolutionary activity. Thus Merton's theory argues that "goal

disjunction", the process whereby the legitimate means no longer enable the individual to

realize or obtain desired cultural goals, leads to a breakdown or de-legitimization of the

norms where they no longer effectively bind the individual's behavior, and a state of

disorganization or anomie prevails in that situation.

The overall hypothesis states that the greater the mal-integration or goal disjunction,

the greater the pressures to violate moral norms, the greater the rates of deviance. Thus
adaptation I (conformity) should decrease and the other modes of adaptation II-V should

increase, with increased pressures. Societies with higher degrees of mal-integration or goal

disjunction should have higher rates of deviance. Furthermore, those groups, which are most

likely to experience strain, would be the ones to manifest higher rates of deviance. And lastly,

as mal-integration increases over time so will the frequency of deviance. Thus deviance is a

normal (expected) response to abnormal social pressures. The pressures are generated by the

way the goals and means in society are integrated, thus deviance is a property of the social

system. The strain is caused by the lack of integration between the goals and institutional

means, which limit opportunities to achieve rewards in society. The theory is sometimes

designated as “opportunity theory”. If access existed to the legitimate goals equally

throughout the social structure, there would only be deviance from sources other than anomie.

Evaluation of Merton's Theory:

A. Logical Adequacy of the Theory: There are problems with Merton's theory as it

currently is formulated. One is the clarity of the concepts. Merton's definition of a cultural

"goal", which he equates with "purpose" or "interest", needs further specification so that

operational definitions would follow from it in a more precise fashion. How are the goals for

a particular society determined? Are the goals related to one another in a neatly arranged

hierarchical fashion? Does Merton overlook the possibility that there can be conflict in the

goals? Are there universal goals in multi-cultural societies?

There are similar problems with respect to "norms" or "means". How are these

determined in a particular society? Do they exist in such a clear cut fashion where there is

wide spread agreement? Or are they more problematical and variable, as symbolic

interactionists would suggest? Also are the norms clearly agreed upon in a multi-cultural

society? Are norms always means to cultural ends, as Merton assumes?

 There is also the difficult question of how to distinguish a "means" from an "end".

Merton recognizes this problem when he states "they are analytically separable although

they merge imperceptibly in concrete situations. Is it not precisely in the concrete situations

that these propositions must be tested? The concept of "goal" is a hypothetical construct

designed to explain the direction human behavior takes. Therefore, goals cannot be observed

directly, and are inferred from behavior or norms. There is a danger of tautologies when the

concept of goal is introduced to "explain" the very behavior from which it has been inferred.

Merton does not go so far in his analysis as to be tautological, but the danger remains.

"Ritualism" involves a rejection of the goals but a continued acceptance of the means;

this creates a difficulty in the sense that one must "know" the original purpose of norms.

Cannot ritualism also be an instance where the means, if they were even that, have changed

their character sufficiently so that they should now be regarded as "ends" or "goals"8? The

question of how to distinguish a "means" from an "end" is a difficult one. Cannot wealth,

which Merton regards as an end, also be a means to status or power? Cannot status be

further regarded as a means to self-acceptance? It is not clear where to draw the line

between a means an ultimate end. There are some difficulties also when ends are determined

on the basis of individual verbal reports, so that brotherhood, charity, or goodness may be

defined as ends or goals, but in fact are only paid lip service in the society. Would Merton

regard these as serious statements of cultural goals, if words but not deeds were directed

toward them?

It is also not clear which modes of adaptation correspond to which specific forms of

deviance and it is often done on a common sense basis.

Another problem is Merton's overly simplified conception of a dichotomous

relationship to means or ends, in the sense that they either totally accepted or totally rejected,
when there may be a range of possible responses and modifications to them. There is not

simple relationship between the means and the ends. Also related is the problem of over

simplification of the "patterns of adaptations". The difficulty lies in determining first, what

an accepting or rejecting stance with respect to means and norms consists in. Second, there

is a difficulty when we try to locate a specific pattern of deviant behavior into his rubric. It is

not clear whether Merton is proposing the boundary of his theory to encompass all possible

forms of deviant behavior, or only those which result from goal disjunction. Is he stating that

all deviance ensues from goal disjunction? It would appear that this is not what he is stating.

If this is not the case, how does one distinguish between deviant behavior, which results from

goal disjunction and that which arises from other sources? Merton has been accused of

selectively discussing only those patterns of deviance that fit his schema while ignoring those

which do not and failing to specify the range of deviant patterns. There is also the concern of

lumping together under the same rubric patterns of deviant behavior, which appear to be

quite dissimilar to one another. What Merton calls innovation may be just imitation, and

there is much overlap in the various modes of adaptation. More attention must be directed

to clarifying these issues and locating the empirical referents in deviant behavior. How would

homicide or cannibalism fit into his schema? More importantly Merton does not deal with

the particular form of deviance within a particular pattern of adaptation nor does he

examine how the social structure may influence the selection of adaptations. This is a crucial

question that is left unanswered in Merton's theory

Other ambiguities also remain in the theory. Is Merton dealing with an "objectified"

social structure and actual discrepancies between the goals and means? Or is he dealing

with, as his concern with reference group theory would indicate, with the phenomenon not of

absolute deprivation but "relative deprivation"? If it is the latter, as we would assume, then
we would also need to know the conditions under which conditions of objective goal

disjunctions would be perceived as such by the members of the society.

There is no assurance that members of the society necessarily recognize all the

conditions of that society. Access to wealth or power may be masked in such a fashion that

the disjunctions are not visible to the members in that society. Merton does not deal with

how "consciousness" may be manipulated in the society so that persons do not develop an

awareness of the dislocations in the social structure. The mass media may be controlled by

those who have vested interests in presenting certain pictures of that society that minimize

disjunctions or the church may deflect attention to next worldly pursuits which mask the real

character and injustice of the society. On the other hand, it is also possible that members

develop inaccurate perceptions about injustice or access when; in fact, no disjunctions exist

in the society.

The point, which must be considered, is that when Merton introduces the concept of

"relative deprivation" and reference group, that the implicit notion of "reality" is that of a

"socially defined reality". Also members do not make independent assessments of reality

that are uninfluenced by other's definitions of the situation. How groups come to define

"reality" is a collective act, although one need not assume all persons share in the power to

define this socially created reality. How the group comes to define the opportunity structure

seems to be more critical than the actual state of the opportunity structure. This collective

definition by the reference group is a primary determinant of the individual's assessment of

goal disjunction. Individuals also do not often make independent assessments that are

uninfluenced by other's definitions as Merton's theory might suggest. Whether there is a

relationship between actual states of goal disjunctions and the definitions of situations

reference groups create is not specified in Merton's analysis. More information is needed
with respect to the intervening variables between objective states of goal disjunction and

reference group definitions, between reference group definitions and individual members’

perceptions, and between the individual member’s perception of goal disjunction and the

actual nonconforming behavior. Merton's theory does not address these issues, and needs

specification to be a complete theory.

Different analyses would result from an "absolute" versus a "relative" concept of

deprivation. When the concept of relative deprivation is utilized then attention is directed

more toward the reference group and less toward the "an overall structural state of the

society". Can the deviant pattern also be a role that is lodged in the reference group, which

the individual can learn, independent of their perception of goal disjunction, as suggested in

Cohen's analysis? Or does susceptibility to deviant patterns necessitate a perception of

relative deprivation and goal disjunction.

Does Merton’s theory have implications for which particular persons will engage in

deviant behavior, because it can be logically derived from the theory, even though Merton

issues a disclaimer against explaining individual incidence and restricts his analysis to over all

rates and differences between groups? The question of how large discrepancies must be

before they will eventuate in deviant behavior is not dealt with in Merton's theory.

B. Testability of the theory: Until some of Merton's concepts and assumptions are

clarified as to precisely what the theory is specifying, a determination of the testability of the

theory is not exactly possible. From casual inspection, the theory appears to be testable in

principle. Cohen has stated, however, that for all the popularity of the theory, remarkably

few applications to specific instances of deviance have been made. Instead, the propositions

have been employed most often as a high level explanatory metaphor.

It would be most difficult to test Merton's theory on a societal level since the data for
comparisons of either different historical periods or across societies is lacking. Non-

conforming behavior can assume many forms, but data are lacking on most except those

which are against the law such as theft, suicide, etc. Other modes of adaptation, such as

ritualism, rarely are considered as deviant, and therefore comparative data on the frequency

of them are lacking. In addition, overall measures of goal disjunction have not been

developed, although some indirect measures of anomie have been experimented with but not

applied systematically to the global problem with which Merton has been concerned.

The theory has been most commonly employed in accounting for differences between

groups within a society. For example, class differences are explained in terms of

disadvantaged opportunities for obtaining social goals, although few studies have pursued

this problem to identify the specific factors involved.

Whether the theory has any applicability to predicting individual deviance within

groups cannot be determined at this point until some of the ambiguities in Merton's theory

are specified. Merton does not explain why only some who are exposed to goal disjunction

turn toward deviant behavior. Sutherland suggest how people define the situation will

determine their reaction to it. For a more complete treatment of this question, Durkheim's

theory of suicide is discussed later.

In so far as the theory can be applied to deviance within smaller social groups, such as

one institutional arena or even within a small group, some experiments have been

undertaken to test some of Merton's propositions.

c) Empirical Support for Merton's Theory:

Cubbin, Pickle, and Fingerhut (2000) found crowded housing conditions to be related

to increased rates of homicide. Inequality in health services and percent of female head of

households was related to homicide rates in black and white households. Currie (1998) found
inequality, poverty and social exclusion related to violent crime and Kerbo (1996) asserts that

the U.S. has the highest poverty rate and biggest gap between rich and poor which was

related to high rates of violence. Krivo and Peteson (1996) found links between disadvantage

and violence and Hagan (1994) observed that in communities that suffer capital

disinvestment, youths are more likely to drift into crime. In Toronto, Sever and Isajiw (1993)

found ethnic prestige and class were factors in predicting powerlessness and anomie and

Lafree and Drass (1997) found those who participate in riots (rebellion) are different from

those who commit common crimes (innovation). Barron (2006) found homeless youths were

in employment situations that either left them alienated from conventional society or with

frustration with their failure and both situations led to increased drug and alcohol use.

The results of empirical studies indicate mixed support for Merton's theory and raise

several questions with respect to his theory.

An assumption central to Merton's thesis is that there exists a set of universally accepted

goals. Is the assumption that "all members in the society are exposed to the form and

content of goals in the same way" supported? Differences in reference groups, socialization,

and experience can sufficiently modify both in kind and degree, the goal orientation of

individuals. Miller (1958) argues the conflict between working and middle class values

creates delinquency directly without the necessity of postulating goal disjunction. In fact,

Merton recognizes this in his analysis of innovation versus retreatism when he suggests that

differences in internalization of the means vary between these two types of groups. There are

similar differences in the internalization of goals? An equally plausible interpretation is that

the lower classes have less concern with goal attainment because they have lower aspirations.

This also raises the broader question of the perspective from which Merton views the social

order. There may not be universally held goals among the various strata and groups in
society, just differences. And these differences are judged as "rejection" only when they are

judged from a "middle class" or "official" perspective of the social order. That is, there may

be a built in cultural relativism in Merton's analysis of departures from norms and values.

Another question that needs to be raised is the problems of the deviance of the rich

and powerful (such as political figures, corporations, governments, professionals) are as great

as that of the poor, but that because they are powerful in shaping laws and influencing the

enforcement of laws, their acts are less likely to get defined as "deviant". Because they are

the creators and interpreters of laws and norms, their behavior gets defined as "conforming".

Secondly, even if they transgress these norms, they are dealt with in informal and non-

punitive ways so that the "official" statistics on deviance are class biased. The very facts,

upon which the edifice of the theory is constructed, are suspect.

In addition, the pressures and dislocations for the upper class may not be as great as

that for the lower class? Merton introduces the concept of "relative deprivation" in order to

account for pressures from the higher classes to attain more wealth. However, doesn't this

wide spread crime among the upper classes and corporations of epidemic proportions, much

more than his theory would suggest, call into question Merton's theory? Doesn’t capitalism

and pressures for increased profit lead to pressures toward crime apart from values? What

about crime in the government, CIA, FBI, NSA., the military, and regulatory agencies, where

wealth may not be as central as power or other objectives? Since in many cases they have a

monopoly on force or control, why do they seek deviant means to accomplish their goals?

Perhaps, because they can! They are not impeded by social controls causes deviance more

than their being limited by goal disjunction. And don't the goals of these special interests

sometimes loom as more important than larger shared societal goals? The laws themselves

are seen not as moral imperatives, but as unwanted intrusions into profit making or
totalitarian control over the population.

Another consideration overlooked by Merton’s theory is the role of other social

controls, aside from the norms, which can reduce or control deviance. Merton assumes

people conform because of positive social rewards received from both obtaining the goals and

following the norms. When these are not forthcoming, conformity will not be sustained.

However, there are also negative sanctions that follow from non-conformity that may result

from oppression and agencies of control. These can generate high levels of conformity even

when there are considerable pressures for non-conformity from goal disjunction. Totalitarian

regimes can impose order by force. The individual's expectancies of rewards are a critical

variable. However, Merton's theory ignores the expectancies of punishment in creating

conformity. Also Merton does not explore the likely probabilities of success through

alternative avenues.

Thus conformity can result even when positive rewards are difficult to obtain within

the existing structure of opportunities, if there is an increase in negative sanctions. In fact,

Merton's analysis is notably neglectful of the role of oppression and coercion in society, which

can generate conformity when consensus is lacking since his primary focus is only on positive

rewards. Violence is also mostly seen to result from the actions of deviants and not the ruling

class. What about the use of state violence to accomplish the purposes of special interests or

totalitarian societies? Who determines rules and goals in society? Functionalists leave us

with the impression that they evolve out of the social system's requirements in some

impersonal and uniform way. They also suggest the belief that such goals are universal and

based on consensus rather than social interests. These underlay Merton's theory of order as

the basis of society. Merton downplays the role of force, coercion, manipulation, conflicting

interests, and power in society and whose interests are served by existing social orders.
 This also results in Merton's overlooking the role of agencies of control in defining

deviant behavior. He assumes it to be mostly a consensual matter that requires little

examination. If the norms are clear-cut, then what constitutes deviance for him is also clear-

cut. It was only in his later work that Merton (1961) defined deviance at all, which he

regarded as "conduct that departs significantly from norms set for people in their social

statuses. This entire stance has been criticized by labeling theorists, and will be discussed

fully in a later chapter.

Merton views integration of goals in some hierarchical-fashion taking place and

overlooks anomie which can result from conflicting goals. Individuals may be torn between

"success" and "wealth" on the one hand, and the "esteem" and "friendship of others", on

the other hand. These goals may be mutually incompatible. Where the individual wants to

"win" and also be "well liked" by his competitors in a situation "where nice guys finish

last," would be an example of an inability to attain two mutually incompatible goals. Thus,

the inability to attain goal A is not blocked by the disjunction between goals and means, but

by the incompatibility between Goal A and Goal B.

Merton's theory also does not explain the origin of over emphasis of goals or strains

between the goals and social structure. He merely assumes them. As a consequence, certain

avenues of analysis are precluded. Horton (1964) claimed that Merton shifted the meaning of

anomie away from its more radical implications. Merton's concept of anomie identifies with

the very groups and values that Durkheim saw as the prime source of anomie in society.

Anomie arose not only from conditions of inequality in opportunities to compete, but because

self-interested striving (status and success goals) and egoism had been raised to social ends.

The institutionalization of self-interest meant the legitimation of anarchy and amorality.

Morality requires social goals obeyed out of disinterest and altruism, not self-interest and
egoism. To maximize opportunities for achieving success would in no way end anomie.

A just society for Merton would be one where there was equality in opportunity. He

does not consider the nature of the goals. Materialism, for example, may fragment human

values and promote competition, even though there are equal opportunities, and still be

destructive to the quality of human life. Capitalism may foster uncontrollable greed that is

difficult to restrain by moral values. The recent scandals and looting by CEOs of major

corporations attests to these possibilities. How those goals come into dominance, and who

benefits by the way the society is organized, are questions not considered by Merton's

analysis. Why is equality in opportunity more desirable than equality in wealth or power?

Merton also fails to account for inequality and barriers to opportunities he describes

as goal disjunction. He does not explore how powerful forces may both create and benefit

from class, gender, and racial discrimination to perpetuate their advantage. Furthermore he

does not get at the root causes of deviance by focusing on the causes of poverty, why inequality

exists, and on what basis rewards are allocated to members of society. Marx has argued

poverty and unemployment are integral to capitalism, and benefit capitalists by capping

wages thus increasing profits. Therefore goal disjunctions come to play critical roles in

societies and will not be eliminated until the economic systems which give rise to them are

transformed. One issue is equality of opportunity another is the sufficiency of rewards

available. If there is equal opportunity, but all have little chance of success, and this is not a

result of barriers in the social system what implications will this have for rates of deviance? If

this perspective is correct, Merton's reformist solutions will fail. Merton leaves little room for

viewing deviance as an outgrowth of evil in the system in both capitalist and totalitarian

societies. The destructive aspects of humanity of a social system are not explored, other than

member’s ability to achieve cultural goals in socially acceptable ways.

 Many of these problems arise out of Merton's conception of the social structure. It

has been argued that functionalist’s conceptions of the social matrix, rests upon reification of

the cultural and social processes. Merton assumes a somewhat stable social order in which

there is considerable consensus with respect both to the "goals" and the "means". This is

how it is possible for him to speak of "universally held" goals. Within this perspective, the

rules would be seen as more clear cut, and conforming behavior more easily identifiable.

However, Merton ignores the question of “how such behavior will be interpreted by others in

the community?” This model of cultural homogeneity may be less applicable to a pluralistic

society where there may be competing or even conflicting values. Merton's analysis does not

allow for subcultural differences, which don't result from goal disjunction. Subcultural

deviance is not necessarily "norm-violating" behavior, as much as it is culture conflict and

different sets of norms operating. From a middle class perspective, the behavior can be seen

as deviant, but it is culturally relative. The question is whether the perspective Merton takes

to the values and norms are also not culturally relative.

Even in his discussion of "rebellion" where he recognizes the possibility of new

cultural forms, he assumes these will then be the dominant norms as the society changes. He

assumes that deviance results because people fail to obtain the socially desired goals in the

institutionalized ways. What about groups and movements, which repudiate those social

goals, such as revolutions, Bohemian or student movements, and suicide bombers and

terrorists? Must these groups always be seen as evidencing "sour grapes" in the sense they

could not have obtained the social rewards? Many of the terrorists of 9/11 came from

privileged backgrounds. Is it not possible that individuals, who have achieved the rewards of

the society, could experience them as empty?

Some of the criticisms may not apply, since Merton does not imply that all deviant
behavior results from goal disjunctions. Merely, to the extent that goal disjunctions occur in

the society, deviance will increase.

Finally, reliance upon official statistics in support of Merton's theory has raised

serious questions about the evidence supporting the theory.

Merton doesn't deal with why all individuals exposed to goal disjunction don't engage

in deviance, other than those with moral inhibitions. Could there not be also structural

effects in shaping responses to social strain? Cloward and Ohlin have raised question about

two significant omissions in Merton's theory: (1) he does not account for the direction of the

form of non-conformity. Why does it assume a subcultural form rather than individualistic

acts, and (2) what determines the shape the non-conforming behavior will assume? Their

theory will be explored next in their attempt to answer these questions not addressed by

Merton. However, while Merton sees differences in opportunities to achieve goals, he does not

look at differences in opportunities to achieve solutions to the problems of goal disjunction. Is

there any relationship to the type of goal disjunction, such as wealth or status, and the type of

response that will occur, such as innovation or retreatism? Merton doesn't relate kinds of

strains to outcomes.

Many interpret Merton’s theory narrowly suggesting it focuses totally on material

success and is class based. Yet the model has more general application and can be applied to

other goal disjunctions involving power, intimacy, sex, or esteem.

Solutions:

Overall Merton's analysis and solution could be regarded as liberal reformism,

suggesting that creating more equal opportunity and access to goals by eliminating barriers

which will result in a more level playing field, will eliminate the problems of contemporary

capitalistic society and the existing social order. His approach was similar to FDR during the
great depression and the establishment of the new deal, but tends to reflect an individualism

of laissez faire economics. Laws, which seek to eliminate barriers and establish positive

programs such as affirmative action or head-start can fix society and eliminate the need for

revolutionary change. Others might argue creating equal opportunity in a failing economic

system, is tantamount to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

COMPARISON WITH SUTHERLAND'S AND COHEN'S THEORIES

Merton's theory provides the basic framework for Cohen's analysis of the emergence

of delinquent gangs. The goal disjunction Cohen's analysis focused on was "status

deprivation" experienced by working class male adolescents. The social class structure

impaired working class male adolescents ability to obtain middle class status and thus created

problems of adjustment for them. This is a direct application of Merton's theory of anomie

to a specific goal disjunction in society. The delinquent subculture's “mode of adaptation”

was rebellion in that they established a contra-culture embodying new cultural goals and

means. Cohen also explored other modes of adaptation in the corner boy and college boy

mode of adaptation, and further identified a disjunction experienced by adolescent females

some middle class male adolescents.

Merton's schema can also be applied to: prostitution or rape, as a response to

structural barriers to obtaining desired sexual partner or rewards in society, organized crime

as a manifestation of innovation among immigrant groups experiencing goal disjunction, and

revolution among groups who lack access to legitimate power in society. (Cite examples of

other studies) Sutherland's theory comes into play once these cultural patterns are

established and describes how they are transmitted in the larger society. Merton ignores the

process by which goal disjunction gets transformed into individual deviant behavior.

Cohen’s theory also fills in the intervening processes and important social dynamics

which transform the condition of anomie into subcultural solutions and the important role of
mutual influence and social interaction in shaping solutions to goal disjunction. Two pre

conditions of problems being system related and opportunities for effective interaction must

exist for collective modes of deviance to develop. Absent these, individual patterns of

deviance may result

We will now direct our attention to Cloward and Ohlin's theory of Delinquency and

Opportunity, which attempted to fill some of the gaps in Merton's theory and to deal with

the variation of delinquent subcultures not examined by Cohen. Cloward and Ohlin pay

special attention to variations in delinquent subcultures, how they are linked to opportunities

for solutions to problems of goal disjunction, and identify conditions that lead to individual

versus collective solutions to problems of goal disjunction.

RESPONSES TO GOAL DISJUNCTION AND PRESSURES TOWARD DEVIANCE;

THE ILLEGITIMATE OPPORTLUNITY STRUCTURE

Cloward & Ohlin's Theory of "Differential Opportunity"

Merton's theory sought to identify societal pressures creating deviant behavior and

the possible ways of adapting to such pressures. Why an individualistic or collective response

developed, or why a particular pattern of adaptation resulted were issues not well explored

by Merton. Cloward and Ohlin's (1960) theory can be seen an attempt to fill these gaps in

Merton's and Cohen’s theories. Their theory was specifically designed to explain the origin

of delinquent subcultures; how and why they arise, why they assume particular forms, and why

they persist. The primary concern of their theory was to explain variation among delinquent

subcultures.

They contend that differential access to legitimate opportunities is the primary factor

in the origin of all delinquent subcultures and the availability of illegitimate opportunities is

the primary determinant of the form of the delinquent subculture.

Their theory, similar to Cohen's, was restricted to delinquent activity that resulted
from participation in delinquent subcultures. This pattern of delinquency resulted from the

performance of social roles that were specifically provided for and supported by the gang

subculture. These roles were both shared and sanctioned by peers. They regarded

subcultural delinquency as the most costly and persistent form of delinquency, which

represents an ongoing challenge to the legitimacy of the norms in society.

Whereas Cohen assumed homogeneity among delinquent gangs, Cloward and Ohlin

were concerned with the range of variation among delinquent gangs. They identified at least

three distinctive types of delinquent subcultures: (a) a criminal subculture primarily oriented

toward theft, (b) a conflict subculture oriented toward gang violence, and (c) a retreatist

subculture primarily oriented toward drugs. Their theory was concerned with explaining

why delinquent norms arose, and why those differences in delinquent subcultures evolved.

Pressures toward non-conformity:

Merton's theory provided the basic framework for both Cohen's and Cloward and

Ohlin's analyses. Merton argued that "goal disjunction", that is, barriers to legitimate

opportunities to achieve cultural goals, created pressures for non-conforming behavior.

While Cohen's analysis focused on the aspirations of working class adolescents to

achieve "status" (esteem in the eyes of others) in middle class respectable society, Cloward

and Ohlin focused on the inability of the working class adolescent to obtain material and

"economic" rewards, which they argue are desired by all strata in society.

Thus Merton, Cohen, and Cloward and Ohlin focus on goal disjunction as the

primary pressure for non-conformity. However Cloward and Ohlin disagree with Cohen and

argue that reputation and respect according to middle class standards are not significant

factors in the motivation of working class adolescents, but the accumulation and expenditure

of wealth are the critical considerations in the motivations of working class youths.

As a result of economic goal disjunction, pressures for non-conforming activities arise.

How individuals respond to those pressures is the next concern of Cloward and Ohlin's

theory.
Responses to Deviant Pressures: Individual vs Collective Responses:

When social structures generate severe problems of adjustment for their members, it

is possible that a collective challenge to the legitimacy of the social order will result (Cf

Marx). Persons in society, who are indignant or angry at the discrepancies between

aspirations and opportunities or between position and worth, may begin to seek avenues of

expressing their dissatisfaction. Interaction with others may encourage withdrawal of

support from the existing authority. Cohen explored some of these issues in the conditions

leading to the formation of a subculture.

De-Legitimation of Existing Norms: Cloward and Ohlin develop, in more detail than

Cohen, the process by which the established norms become less binding upon the members.

The de-legitimation of old norms is necessary before new norms can assume importance since

individuals were socialized to feel guilt or shame if they failed to live up the norms. Cloward

and Ohlin describe a sequence of steps they suggest are necessary before large groups of

persons can feel the norms are no longer binding on their behavior. These factors could be

added to those offered by Sykes and Matza’s (1957) theory in terms of persons in the market

for techniques of neutralization?

1) The first step in the process of alienation is "failure" or the "anticipation of failure" by

adhering to the norms.

2) The second step in disengagement from the norms is related to how the failure is

interpreted and whom the individual blames. If they blame themselves for the failure, and

define it as the result of their own inadequacy, then it is unlikely that their allegiance to the

norms will falter. On the other hand, if they blame society or the social system for their

failure, this increases the likelihood of their alienation from the norms. Their sense of injustice

cancels their obligation to support the norms (distributive justice). Cloward and Ohlin do not

deal in any depth with the factors that influence the direction of the blame for the failure9.

3) The third step in the de-legitimation of the norms is to seek the legitimation and support

of others. Since social support is necessary for self-acceptance of one's beliefs because they
are based on a social reality, the individual needs the confirmation of others to feel secure in

their beliefs. Cohen gave much consideration to this process in his discussion of "mutual

conversion”.

4) The final step of alienation, once individuals obtain the legitimation and support of

others is to develop ways of dealing with potential guilt and fear which is likely to result from

rejecting internalized norms. These are successful ways of coping with (a) partially

internalized norms in the individual and (b) hostile and rejecting responses of other members

in the society. Sykes and Matza (1957) identified these as techniques of neutralization.

When these conditions are fulfilled, collective challenges to the social system are likely.

When large numbers of individuals experience or obtain the support and legitimation of

others, and have effective techniques for neutralizing guilt and social disapproval, then a

collective challenge or subcultural response to goal disjunction is likely to result.

On the other hand, individualistic adaptations are most likely when there is failure, but

the individual either blames them self or has no opportunity to develop social support to blame

society. Under these circumstances the individual may develop feelings of inadequacy, self-

condemnation, shame, or withdrawal. Patterns of mental illness, suicide, alcoholism, or other

forms of withdrawal more than collective challenges to society are likely to result from this

privatization of failure. Subcultures are unlikely to result under these conditions. The

opportunity for interaction with others with similar problems of adjustment increase the

probability of defining the problem in system-related terms, blaming the social order, and

acting against it in some fashion. Thus collective adaptations occur when failure is attributed

to the social order, and individualistic adaptations result when failure is attributed to the

individual.

Responses to Deviant Pressures: Patterns of Adaptations;

Given that goal disjunction creates pressures for non-conforming behavior, what other

factors besides where the blame is directed, shape the individuals response to those

pressures?
 Merton identified five patterns of adaptation to the pressures of goal disjunction.

They reflected combinations of managing aspects of the goals and means; conformity,

innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. As goals increase in importance or access to

goals through legitimate avenues decreases, increased pressures for adaptations other than

conformity arise.

The primary determinant of the form of adaptation, according to Cloward and Ohlin,

is the availability of illegitimate opportunities in the situation. This factor determines the form

that deviant patterns will assume.

In order to give substance to their formulation, Cloward and Ohlin describe three

different types of delinquent cultures. These are described as ideal types, and any particular

gang may have attributes of all the cultural forms. The subcultures are distinguished by:

their values, norms, role models, heroes, and worldviews.

Description of Delinquent Subcultures:

1. Criminal Subcultures: This type of delinquent subculture is oriented towards theft,

extortion, and other illegal means of securing income. Wealth assumes primary importance.

Stealth, dexterity, wit, front, and capacity to avoid detection are highly valued in this culture.

Prestige goes to those who achieve material goods through illicit means and the "big haul" or

"score" elicit special recognition. They see the world as populated by "smart guys" and

"suckers" (i.e., those who work for a living). Older criminals are admired and respected as

"role models" within the culture.

2. Conflict Subcultures: This type of gang tends toward violent confrontation with

other gangs and members of the community. The values seem oriented toward the

manipulation of violence, which tends to predominate the way of obtaining status within this

culture. Heart, courage, skill at fighting, and strength are highly valued within this culture.

The "bopper" fights for respect and is a model warrior who has courage in the face of

danger, and whose reputation and recognition depends upon his skill as a fighter. His world
consists in his "turf" which has to be defended from enemies. He wins respect by violence

and coercion.

3. Retreatist Subcultures: This culture is devoted to the consumption of drugs or

alcohol and pursuits of sensual experiences or euphoria. Esoteric "kicks" through the use of

alcohol, marijuana, sexual experience, and music are highly sought after. A constant state of

getting high is sought. There is a tendency to reject violence, and a preference is for

manipulation, persuasion, conniving, and outwitting others. Prestige goes to those who are

"cool" and exhibit taste and demeanor. Coolness and self-assurance are cultivated along

with attitudes of aloofness and superiority to "squares".

The Distributions of Types of Gangs Within the Community:

The gangs are also differentially distributed in the community. Criminal subcultures

are likely to occur in neighborhoods where crime and conventional institutions are highly

integrated, there successful criminal role models, and illegitimate avenues for upward

mobility exist. Conflict subcultures tend to be found in weakly integrated neighborhoods or

disorganized slums, where illegal opportunities are severely limited and social controls weak.

Retreatist subcultures can be found in differing social contexts.

Causes of Variation in the Delinquent Subcultures:

The different social contexts produce different forms of delinquent subcultures

because they are characterized by different opportunity structures with respect to illegitimate

avenues for goal attainment.

According to Cloward and Ohlin, that in the same fashion that there is variation in

legitimate opportunities for upward mobility, there is variation in opportunities for

illegitimate upward mobility. In areas where there are opportunities for illegal avenues to

success goals, a Criminal subculture will emerge. When there are barriers to both legal and

illicit opportunities toward success goals, then a Conflict subculture will arise with substitute

goals. Failing the availability of legal, illegal, and substitutive avenues, individuals may ban

together and seek to escape the burden of failure and withdraw into Retreatist subcultures.
 Thus Cloward and Ohlin seem to be implying that there is a hierarchical ordering of

Merton's patterns of adaptation. Legal avenues (conformity), if available, would be selected

first, since it promises the most opportunities for maximal rewards. Satisfactions can result

from both the attainment of the goal and the manner of achieving it.

When legitimate opportunities are limited and scarce, the next most likely avenue for

individuals who have strongly internalized the goals and less so the legitimate means, is

innovation, assuming there is opportunity in the illegitimate opportunity structure.

Given barriers in both legitimate and illegitimate avenues, substitutive goals

(rebellion) would be the next most likely response. Failing avenues in any opportunity

structure, legal, illicit, or substitutive, or possessing strong inhibitions against violating

legitimate expectations, individuals may withdraw (retreatism) from the burden of failure.

In summary, Cloward and Ohlin's theory purports to explain variation in delinquent

subcultures. They contend that differential access to legitimate opportunities is the primary

cause of all delinquent subcultures, and that availability of illegitimate opportunities is the

primary determinant of the form that the delinquent subculture assumes.

Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin's Theory:

Most of the criticisms raised with respect to Cohen's and Merton's theory also apply

to Cloward and Ohlin's theory. In addition, their description of the delinquent subcultures

lacks empirical confirmation, and their reliance on official statistics to support their theory

can also be questioned.

Spergel's (1964) analysis of gangs in New York City supported Cloward and Ohlin's

typology, whereas Gold (1966) and Erikson and Empey (1963) did not find such

specialization among delinquent subcultures. In recent studies of gangs in London by

Rougledge and Kegan ( ), doubt is cast upon both Cohen and Cloward and Ohlin's

formulations.

The degree to which disjunctions exist in the culture and the extent to which they are
responsible for the emergence of delinquent subcultures remains to be established.

As stated earlier, Cloward and Ohlin's analysis is grounded in the same functional

paradigm employed by Merton and Cohen and are subject to the same interpretations and

limitations of that paradigm. Cullen (1988) suggests that Cloward and Ohlin were more

critical of Merton “strain” theory and used “opportunity” perspective instead giving it a

more radical focus. These issues will be dealt with in more detail in a subsequent chapter.

Evidence that members of the Retreatist subcultures are "failures" in crime, or have

internalized middle class prohibitions has not been demonstrated thus far by empirical

research. It is also not clear if the theory is only limited to the emergence of criminal norms

or subcultures in specific areas, or whether it also can be applied to the individual level and

predict which lower class boys would be more likely to join what subculture? Does it relate to

the individual's perceptions of opportunities, or the objective structure of such opportunities

in the community? These issues also await further research for satisfactory answers. Some

anecdotal evidence showing some previous conflict gangs such as the Crips and Bloods

transformed into criminal gangs, when opportunities for illegal profits in drugs became

available, supports Cloward and Ohlin’s analysis. Some suggest the description of gangs

may be dated. The importance of race in the organization of subcultures is not fully explored

by most theories as are the growing types of gangs from bikers to those which have their

origins in prisons such as the Mexican Mafia, as well as the fact that adults constitute a

significant proportion of gang members in many gangs.

Integrating the Theories: Merton, Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin, and Sutherland

Merton's theory can provide a basic framework for both Cohen's and Cloward and

Ohlin's theories. The thrust of Merton's theory was to identify cultural pressures for non-

conforming behavior. The basic cause or pressure for non-conforming behavior was "goal

disjunction". Cohen's analysis can be viewed as filling in the skeletal structure of Merton's

framework and applying it to one particular form of deviant behavior--gang delinquency.

For Cohen, it was the pressure to attain middle class status and simultaneous impairment of

the social structure. The same would apply to Cloward’s and Ohlin’s analysis except their

focus was on blockage of economic goals. While Merton's analysis sought to identify the

pressures for non-conforming behavior, and possible response to these pressures, he failed to

explain the form that deviant behavior would assume. Cohen addressed this issue with

respect to collective adaptations versus individual patterns of deviance, where two factors

were critical: problems of adjustment created by the social system and opportunities for

effective interaction for the emergence of a subculture. These conditions would lead to

collective forms of deviance. Cloward and Ohlin's contribution was to identify the role of the

social structure in limiting solutions or responses to goal disjunction in the form of

differential illicit opportunities. In addition, they pursued in depth the process by which

norms become de-legitimized. Both Cohen and Cloward and Ohlin were concerned with

identifying the conditions under which collective adaptations to goal disjunction would result

in Merton’s framework. Sutherland's theory assumes importance after deviant subcultures

are established, and deals with how those patterns persist and are transmitted to individuals

throughout the social structure. However, Sutherland's theory does not depend upon any

particular theory of the origin of the subculture. Furthermore, Merton's, Cohen's, and

Cloward and Ohlin's theories do not depend upon any particular theory of socialization or

cultural transmission.

An important difference between Merton's and Cohen's and Cloward and Ohlin's

theories is that it encompasses individual as well as collective forms of deviance.

Merton, Cohen, and Cloward and Ohlin all agree that the unavailability of legitimate

avenues for the attainment of cultural goals creates pressures for non-conforming behavior. All

implicitly assume, conformity to conventional norms is generated by the receipt of social

rewards. They would all agree that differences in access to cultural goals are related to the

social class structure, and tend to assume that deviance is higher among the lower classes for

that reason. All accept conventional definitions of deviance and criminality and see clear-cut
differences between conformity and non-conformity. Merton's theory is formulated in a

general fashion to apply to any goal or means, while Cloward and Ohlin and Cohen focus on

the specific content of the goals and deviant forms. Cohen and Cloward and Ohlin disagree

as to the character of the goal disjunction; for Cohen respect or status is the primary

consideration, whereas wealth is central to Cloward and Ohlin's formulation. At issue are

the objective characteristics of delinquent subcultures, although it has been suggested that

the DSC described by Cohen has similarities to the Conflict subculture described by Cloward

and Ohlin. Both Cohen and Cloward and Ohlin direct attention to the cultural processes

which shape responses to goal disjunction, which Merton pays only minor attention to the

determinants of modes of adaptation, such as strong internalization of middle class norms.

There would also be a difference in the approach to the problem of subcultural

variation between Cohen's and Cloward and Ohlin's formulations. The underlying logic of

Cohen's analysis of the difference between male and female delinquency is that they differed

because they were motivated by different problems. If subcultures are, as Cohen assumes,

problem solving mechanisms, then differences in the in the problems confronting individuals

would be expected to produce differences in subcultural solutions, which are responses to

those problems. That is, different problems require different solutions. Thus the hypothesis

would state that different problems would giv e rise to different subcultures.

The thrust of Cloward and Ohlin's argument is different. They suggest that variation

in culture can result from individuals who are confronted from the same problem, because

opportunities to achieve solutions to problems also are differentially available to different

populations. This hypothesis would state that subcultural variation results from similar

cultural pressures but differing opportunities to achieve solutions to those problems.

Of course, neither are mutually exclusive hypotheses, and further research is required

to investigate this issue more fully. One avenue of reconciling these two views is whether the

concept of problem in Cohen's analysis incorporates opportunities for solutions. His analysis

of the relative costs and rewards of the "delinquent," "corner and college" boy, as well as the
costs for male and female delinquent solutions suggests some avenues that are compatible

with Cloward and Ohlin's concept of opportunity.

Sutherland does not deal specifically with the origin of deviant subcultures and does

not postulate they result from goal disjunction. He assumes there can be many forms of

social conflict in society that exist for many reasons. His focus is merely on how these get

transmitted in the society once in existence. His theory is applicable to how larger goals,

values and norms get transmitted in the more general society in the larger formulation of

Merton’s analysis of goals and means.

In conclusion, what is significant about these theories is that they all can be

incorporated into a single framework. Each theory focused on a somewhat different aspect

of the problem, but all can be incorporated within the general framework. Some conflicts

over specific issues remain, but they are minor and would not change the basic character of

the framework, no matter how they were resolved. This model may also account for the wide

variety of deviant subcultures such as the inmate subculture, biker’s subculture, etc.

The following chapters will present other theories in such areas as mental illness,

suicide, homicide, and revolutions, which also fit into this same general functional paradigm

for explaining deviance.

ENDNOTES
1
 Sutherland recognized many of the problems (1956:13-43) and attempted continually to revise the
theory to meet objections raised against the theory. Despite his efforts and those of his students, the
problems still remain with the theory. For a defense of Sutherland's theory see Cressey (1960).

2
  Schuessler and Cressey, 1950, Waldo and Dinnitz:1967,. However, some psychologists maintain
that psychological tests and I.Q. scores have shown consistent differences between delinquents and
non-delinquents (Hathaway, Monachesi and Young:1960, Hindelang and Weis:1972).

3
  Matsueda (1982), Matsueda and Heimer (1987), Tittle (1980), Orcutt (1987), and Pasternosster
and Tipless (1988) found criminal definitions to be a strong causal link in delinquent behavior.
While Warr and Stafford (1991), Jaquith (1981), Orcutt (1987), Paternoster and Tiplett (1988) and
Cheung and Ng (1988) found friend's behavior more related to delinquency than either their friend's
or their own attitudes. In some cases friend's behavior has predictive value apart from the
respondents attitudes suggesting delinquency is not primarily a consequence of attitudes acquired
from peers challenging Sutherland's theory. The mechanism by which delinquency was transmitted
was not examined in these studies.

4
 The concept of "reference" as well as "membership" group has been proposed as a possible
explanation. Examples of plays, movies or T.V. serials are believed to inspire a rash of one particular
type of crime infrequent before its exposure on T.V. Related to this is the influence of television and
other mass media on criminal behavior. Sutherland believed it played an insignificant role
compared to intimate associations. Would he change his mind if he were alive today, especially in
light of research indicating watching violence on T.V increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior
later in life (Johnson et. al.2002).

5
 Aker's modification has been criticized by Adams (1973).
6
 This discussion has benefited from Oscar Grusky.
7
 This is similar to Durkheim's analysis of the normality of crime when he suggests too much crime
(norm violation) leads to a breakdown of social order, and too little crime leads to a rigid society
incapable of adapting to new social conditions and restricting social change.
8
 another
9
 Henry and Short (1954} in Suicide and Homicide address themselves in more depth to this issue
in their analysis of and distinction between external and internal restraints.
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