Subcultural Explanations 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

In sociology, what is a subculture?

A group with norms and values that differ from the wider society.

What do subcultural explanations say about why some people commit crime?

People follow their group’s values, which may support rule‑breaking to gain respect.

What is a delinquent subculture?

A youth group that values acts like truancy or vandalism to win status.

What is status frustration?

Feeling angry about low status after school failure or blocked chances. It can push some into deviant groups.

Which sociologist linked status frustration to delinquent subcultures?

Albert Cohen.

What is an alternative status hierarchy?

A new rank system in the group where rule‑breaking wins respect, not school grades or jobs.

What did Cloward and Ohlin mean by differential opportunity?

Different areas give different chances to succeed legally or illegally.

Name the three types of subculture in Cloward and Ohlin’s theory.

Criminal, conflict, and retreatist.

What are Miller’s ‘focal concerns’?

Values like toughness, excitement, and being streetwise that can lead to crime.

How can peer pressure help explain subcultural crime?

Friends reward risk and rule‑breaking with status, so youths copy to fit in.

Give one criticism of subcultural explanations.

They focus on male, working‑class youths and often ignore female or middle‑class crime.

Do all young people in low‑income areas join deviant subcultures?

No. Many reject deviance and follow mainstream norms.