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Subcultural theory Main article: Subcultural theory Following the Chicago school and strain theory, and also drawing on Edwin Sutherland's idea of differential association, subcultural theorists focused on small cultural groups fragmenting away from the mainstream to form their own values and meanings about life.

Albert K. Cohen tied anomie theory with Sigmund Freud's reaction formation idea, suggesting that delinquency among lower class youths is a reaction against the social norms of the middle class. Some youth, especially from poorer areas where opportunities are scarce, might adopt social norms specific to those places that may include "toughness" and disrespect for authority. Criminal acts may result when youths conform to norms of the deviant subculture.

Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin suggested that delinquency can result from a differential opportunity for lower class youth. Such youths may be tempted to take up criminal activities, choosing an illegitimate path that provides them more lucrative economic benefits than conventional, over legal options such as minimum wage-paying jobs available to them.

British subcultural theorists focused more heavily on the issue of class, where some criminal activities were seen as "imaginary solutions" to the problem of belonging to a subordinate class. A further study by the Chicago school looked at gangs and the influence of the interaction of gang leaders under the observation of adults.

Sociologists such as Raymond D. Gastil have explored the impact of a Southern culture of honor on violent crime rates.

Walter B. Miller's lower concerns theory describes why adolescents feel the need to become delinquent in their society. The adolescents want to conform to the standards of six focal concerns set by their community. The six focal concerns Miller uses are: trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, fate and autonomy. Trouble is whether the adolescent presented law-abiding or non-law-abiding behavior. Toughness represents masculinity in the lower class. Smartness is the ability to outwit somebody. Excitement shows the need for thrill in life. Fate is if someone has luck, or is in luck. Autonomy is the control individuals have on themselves. 4. How concerns effect delinquency. 5. Tittle's Critique of Miller's lower class views