Key Study: Cohen Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Need more help on this topic? Get 1-to-1 support

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

  • DBS-checked tutors
  • Flexible times
  • Parents can be updated

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

Who is the 'Cohen' in this key study, and what did he study?

Albert K. Cohen. He explained why some working-class boys form delinquent subcultures.

What is 'status frustration' in Cohen's theory?

Feeling upset because you cannot gain respect at school under middle-class rules.

Why did Cohen think some working-class boys struggle at school?

Schools reward middle-class values, so some boys cannot win status in that system.

What is a delinquent subculture in Cohen's view?

A group that rejects school rules and makes new values to get respect from friends.

How do delinquent subcultures give status?

They praise acts the school dislikes, like breaking rules or fighting, to earn respect.

Which types of crime does Cohen's theory explain well?

Non-utilitarian (no money motive) crimes, such as vandalism, fighting and truancy.

What does 'value inversion' mean in this study?

The group flips values so bad things outside seem good inside the group.

What three responses to status frustration did Cohen name?

College boy, corner boy, and delinquent boy.

In Cohen's study, what is a 'college boy'?

A boy who tries to win status by following school rules and values.

In Cohen's study, what is a 'corner boy'?

A boy who accepts low status and just gets by with friends.

In Cohen's study, what is a 'delinquent boy'?

A boy who rejects school values and seeks status in a delinquent subculture.

Give one criticism of Cohen's explanation.

It focuses on boys and assumes shared middle-class values, so it may not fit girls or all groups.