Deviant Subculture as a Group of People - Literature review Example

Deviant Subculture Name Institution Date Table of Contents Deviant Subculture 1 Name 1 Table of Contents 2 DEVIANT SUBCULTURE 17 2 Introduction 3 Criminology, subcultures and deviance 4 The Sub-Cultural Theory of Deviant Subculture 8 Reasons for the formation of deviant subcultures 12 Conclusion 14 Introduction Deviant subcultures refer to groups of people that develop norms and ideals that are believed to be outside the culture of the dominant citizens. Culture characterizes the values, customs and norms which guide both the act and behavior as a structure from which actions are judged by the mainstream population. It is passed on socially other than biologically. Deviance refers to characteristics of actions or behaviors of persons which breaches group norms, entailing moral standards and cultural mores. A subculture refers to a distinct culture within a culture, whose values and norms are different from the mainstream culture but don’t essentially display a culture that is considered deviant by the mainstream population. Members of a subculture take part in and share the bigger culture of which the subculture is a portion of. A deviant subculture is considered deviant since it is engaged in behaviors that intimidate the mainstream populace or because it is marked as unusual by the conventional population. Subcultures are accompanied by an implausible of types, associated with organized crime families, street gangs, drug addicts, prison inmates, punk rockers and religious cults. In the grander communal scale subcultures entail underclass and working class subcultures, ethnic or racial subcultures, regional subcultures, youth subcultures, and immigrant subcultures. Even though not every subculture is deviant, the word subculture is usually used to describe the attitudes ad values of deviant groups, and particularly juvenile deviant groups (Jenks, 2005). Thus, the study of deviant subculture has customarily been linked with sociology of crime and deviance, youth social work and criminology but study of deviant subcultures have gone far beyond its conventional disciplinary boundaries. The word subculture is identical to the culture that refers to both a share compilation of traits, involving values, interests, beliefs, behaviors, languages and a share identity. The words cultures and subcultures can interchangeably refer to the populations or groups of individuals characterized by distinct traits. Criminology, subcultures and deviance Sub-cultural theories that deal with crime and deviance are connected to Metron’s theory based o structural causes of crime. Subcultural theories describe causes of crime in basis of subculture of a group of people. The basis of Merton theory is that groups in the society develop norms and values which are dissimilar from those of the other mainstream members of the society. Deviance emerges because persons conform to norms and values of certain groups which have the code of their own behavior. For instance, numerous groups advocate values which reward and encourage criminal behavior. This does not imply that members of the subcultures are entirely diverse from other members of the society, but it implies that subcultures are diverse from the culture of the society in general that compels them to perform acts which might be criminal (Merton, 1936). Merton undertook a functional approach to explain deviant behavior in a society. Since he was functionalist and therefore believed that social institutions functions to further community and eventually keep stability in the social structure. Functionalists deem that societies must possess particular characteristics to enable it survive. Merton shares this opinion but also stress that that at the same time, certain institutions isn’t the only ones that have the capability of fulfilling these functions and that there are a variety of functional choices that may be capable of performing this task (Merton, 1936). Merton describes culture as the planed set of normative values directing behavior which is universal to members of a certain group or society. According to Merton, (1938), social structures are planed set of social relations whereby members of the group or society are variously incriminated. According to Merton, anomie is a state of normalessness, that emerges when an acute disjunction takes between cultural goals and norms and the socially, structured capabilities of members of the society or group to behave in accordance with them. In his theory, he connects anomies with deviance and claims that a discontinuity between structure and culture has the dysfunctional outcome of leading to a deviance in the society. Sub-cultural theorists Cloward and Ohlin (1960) have tried to extend Merton’s work by utilizing the notion of comparative opportunity structure. They assert that criminal deviance takes place when there is restrained opportunity to accomplish victory accompanied by available illegal opportunities. Additionally, they propose that criminal subcultures are formed with the aim of organizing and expanding schemes of deviance. Ohlin and Cloward gives an explanation as to why deviant is a collective other than a individual act through their suggestion that Cohen had overvalued the function of school in inducing criminal behaviors. They proposed that the way to delinquency engaged one of three subcultures: criminal subcultures, conflict subcultures and retreatist subcultures (Ohlin & Cloward, 1960). Criminal subculture is the demonstration of Merton’s anomie theory, whereby adolescents utilize crime for material benefits. This subculture often forms in regions where there are established organizations of adult crime which offer an illegal opportunity structure for the youth to study tricks of trade. Conflict subcultures occur where an illegal opportunity is absent, and a delinquent usually creates inconsistency gangs as a result of frustration caused by unavailability of opportunity structures. Retreatist subcultures, which usually involve hustling and drug abuse , are often found amid double failures, among delinquents who are not able to get acknowledgement in either legal groups or in criminal and conflict subcultures. Ohlin, and Cloward (1960), believed that delinquency did not result from school failure, but resulted from frustrations of adolescents due to lack of money success as Merton suggested. Cohen also developed the previous work of Merton and was the first sociologist in America to study gangs and subcultures amongst the young working class men. He criticized Merton’s theory on two major grounds. Firstly, he argued that criminal behavior is a collective other than an individual reaction to structures in the society. Merton, on the contrary viewed individuals responding to their position within the society but Cohen deemed that persons came together in a collective reaction. Secondly, Cohen criticized Merton for falling short in offering an explanation for the non utilitarian crime which did not possess a financial objective. Crimes like joy riding and vandalism do not have any financial gain. Cohen enquired if these forms of crimes emerge as a consequence of success driven objectives of the mainstream culture in the society (Cohen, 1972). Cohen (1972) discovered the occurrence of deviant subcultures is high in lower classes ad these subcultures are based upon values that are in opposition with the dominant culture. Nevertheless, Cohen accepted that the theory of Merton was highly incredible as an elucidation for adult professional crime and for property delinquency of semi professional and numerous older thieves. Cohen undertook an analysis of what motivated youths in working class and explicates which could clarify what made them to commit crimes. Cohen recognized that the youths also pursued success goals of the mainstream society, but were not able to accomplish the goals because they did not have a good education, a thing that made them to get low level jobs. This educational failure was as a result of their position within the social structure of the society. Cohen asserts that cultural deficiency is the main cause of educational failure in working class members (Cohen, 1955). Like Merton’s theory, Cohen asserts that subcultures refutes mainstream culture, and also reverses it. He notes that youths who are in a deviant subculture take satisfaction I the suffering and approval of other people as a consequence of their deviant actions or behavior. Activities like vandalism, truancy and stealing are highly considered in the subculture, whilst censured in the wider mainstream society. Apart from being an action of disobedience against values of the mainstream society, deviant subcultures also bring esteem to executor of crimes amongst their peers. Cohen (1955) argues that stealing is not a great way to success o basis of mainstream objectives, but it is a valued act to which attaches prowess, glory and philosophical satisfaction. By such delinquent behaviors, working class youth get to terms with their minor status in the society ad are able to work out their aggravations. Cohen notes that success is gauged in accordance with deviant values which are held by people in the subculture and this delinquent behavior is ot needed to lead to financial gain, a notion that explains reasons why people commit crimes such as vandalism. Whilst acknowledging Merton’s theory that as a result of disparate access to opportunities, particular groups in the society respond through resorting to criminal activities so as to attain success and he further goes on by stating that deviant subcultures worsens the situation through reinforcing pressure in the society to deviate( Downes,1966). While Miller, (1958), agrees that deviant subcultures have the probability of developing in lower class, he proposes that their values that come up aren’t a response against middle class way of living. He rather proposes that their values come out as a result of their everyday experiences in the contexts of the limited opportunities. Miller portrays six core concerns of the deviant subcultures, which are trouble, smartness, toughness, autonomy, excitement and fate. Miller recognized delinquency as a trial by the adolescents of a certain household structure to match to lower class culture. Miller (1959) argues that the unqualified working class in the Unite States strongly adheres to particular values like search for excitement, the requirement for macho masculinity and the philosophical approach towards life. Male working class youths who were brought up in female dominated homes where there is minute dependence male’s earnings tried to assert their masculinity through formation of gangs. Trials to conform to lower class culture usually leads to law breaking, which is a revolt against middle class values that are reflected by the law (Miller, 1959). The Sub-Cultural Theory of Deviant Subculture The sub-cultural theory of deviant behavior is greatly influenced by Cohen’s adjustment of Merton’s theory. Subcultural theorists portray deviance as the subculture of the society. It is claimed that the creation of deviant subcultures enhances its members with a deviant identity, diverging from morals and norms, which are considered deviant by mainstream culture. Biker gang is a deviant group, a subculture and a minority group in Australia. Bike gangs subculture rejects the values which are established by middle Australians ad are ruled by their individual codes of behavior. The latest research by Koch & Quin (2003) in Australia revealed that outlaw motorcycle clubs or biker gangs have patriotic ideologies ad are defied on the basis of tremendous masculine concepts like loyalty, brotherhood and an empowered code of silence. Bikie gangs have their roots in the after the second world war United States of America and has a collection of ideals that celebrate freedom, nonconformity to the mainstream culture ad loyalty to biker group( Koch & Quin, 2003). Numerous Biker gangs involve in criminal activities. Apart from their connections with the motorcycles and one percenter subculture, criminal biker gangs are distinctive amid crime groups in that they have websites and also identify themselves via tattoos and patches. Additionally, bikie gangs have by laws and written constitutions, trademarks of their club logos and names and publicity campaigns which are aimed are cleaning their public image. Outlaw motorcycle gangs is a good example of subculture, whose members describe themselves as one percenter When the motorcyclists association of America censured the actions of outlaw bikers, it asserted that the cyclists were merely one percent of organized motorcycling population. The Bikie gang adopted this phrase as a sign of distinction (Barker, 2007). Deviance is a shared other than an individual reaction, because individuals come together and join hands to form a deviant subculture. Types of deviance such as utilization crimes, like joyriding and vandalism do not offer money reward, but are directly driven by the success of objectives and goals of the mainstream culture. Working class people share similar dreams of being successful like mainstream individuals, nevertheless they have very limited opportunities to attain them, because they are put in lower stratification schemes where success avenues are blocked or not accessible. This makes them feel frustrated, which in turn compels them to look for optional set of values and norms that offer them a similar prestige and success (Cohen, 1955). Bike gangs lead hedonist livings and usually reinforce their images as social outcasts by taking part in disgraceful behavior and actions for the gain of onlookers. The biker gang mobility of subculture values, skill at fighting, mechanical capability, expertise of riding very huge motorcycles, ad the capability to con or manipulate others Crime is usually a portion of the life of these cyclists, atleast to the time they live in the streets. After committing crimes in the streets, the impacts of run-is with law, crashes ad brawls, the bikers take their toll and quit the gags, often into working class occupations (Koch & Quin, 2003). According to Meier and Clinard (2010), women bikers might lead more bleak lives. Most of them usually come from backgrounds of social and economic deficiency, biker gangs abuse women economically and physically. Women usually take part in numerous initiation ceremonies ad contribute to finances of gang by drug sales or through prostitution. The deviant subculture usually rejects mainstream culture and overturns it, through stealing, truancy, or vandalism, activities which are censured by the mainstream society. The deviant subculture is usually characterized as malevolence, a satisfaction in upsetting people who are in authority and breaking the universally followed laws in the mainstream society. The Australian biker gangs engage in criminal or deviant activities which are against the law and this has resulted to a series of violent incidents between the gangs and the state government and police (Meier, & Clinard 2010). Over recent years, tensions have escalated to the extent that biker gangs’ members have bee planning to retaliate against the police. Cohen, (1955) argues that a deviant subculture is more than a mere defiance and it also provides positive rewards. Individuals of the deviant subculture who perform the set values and norms successfully attain recognition among other members of the society. In this manner, committing of crimes does not simply present defiance to mainstream culture, but it is a means of gaining prestige and acceptance. In this approach, Cohen explains that susceptible people in the society may overcome their status frustration, though getting membership in the deviant subcultures. For instance, Australian Hell’s angel motorcycle gang is a notorious in engaging in criminal activities which are usually denied by the Australian society. The gang is perpetually engaged in violence, extortion, drug trade and trading of pilfered goods. Nevertheless, the motorcycle fanatics dispute these claims of criminal activities ad maintain that their goal of riding huge Harley Davidson motorbikes is to enjoy the organized road trips, motorcycle rallies, fundraisers ad parties with their person friends and family members(Koch, & Quin, 2003). A wide rage of subcultures characterize cotemporary industrial societies with numerous of these cultures gaining the deviant status. Cohen (1972), proposes that subcultures emerge in greatly differentiated, intricate societies when numerous individuals encounter identical difficulties living In the existing culture. From this point of view, subcultures demonstrate shared setbacks posed by a dominant culture. For instant, the biker gangs subculture represents reaction by the motorcyclists to the frustration of attempting to meet the societal expectations, values and norms. The deviant subculture offers motorcycles the optional status scheme in which they feel better and sufficiently equipped to compete in the mainstream society. Reasons for the formation of deviant subcultures One reason for the formation and existence of deviant subcultures is because of status frustration that is generated by an individual’s position within the class stratified society. Cohen, a functionalist writer supports this reason. Cohen (1972) argues that working class youths suffered cultural deprivation, implying that they did not have the essential intelligence or wit, to enhance their success as proscribed by dominant value consensus. Their position within the social structure implied that they suffered from frustration status and their reaction to this was their formation of the deviant subculture. In this novel subcultural group, these youths had a detached value consensus which acknowledged their talents, implying that they were culturally satisfies as opposed to culturally deficient. The formation of a subculture permitted them to no longer have the feeling of status frustration as they viewed themselves as being on top within the new subculture (Cohen, 1972). Another reason for formation of deviant subcultures is the idea that particular members of the community suffer from comparative deprivation, implying that they lack things that other people take for grated, ad are thus marginalised or ignored by the mainstream society. Youg and Leah put forth this specific reason. As Cohen, they felt that particular members of the society feel rejected as a result of their position in the capitalist system. Nevertheless, they refuted the view of Cohen, that there was a single uniform response to the situation. They rather asserted that individuals cold create numerous subcultures to assist them cope with this situation. For instance, structural inequality and racism implies that numerous afro-Caribbean males suffer from marginalization ad relative deprivation. Nevertheless, they might also make a decision that becoming a student, which is another form of subcultural group, is their source of happiness and this too ca be regarded deviant if every person with the exclusion of black boys is a career in wrong doing( Polk, & Schafer, 1972). The final reason to the formation of deviant subcultures is that working class males face hardship within the society in a very tender age; they face disaffection in learning institutions on a huge scale. The middle class dominated systems of schooling that have different values and norms to what they possess themselves ad to what they have learnt from their families. This generates frustration as the path to success appears to be harder than that of individuals of higher social status. This frustration might result to formation of the deviant subculture, since the values of the subculture are usually completely opposite to those of the legitimate society. Where normal societal values present decency ad kindness, a subculture values might represent hostility and malice, since the deviant can’t generally attain academic recognition or monetary success (Merton, 1936). Therefore, through being a portion of a gang and becoming a portion of its behavioural way of living results to respect, acceptance, and latent advancement in the criminal career. When this theory is combined with the actuality that working class men suffer from deprivation of material, the result is that they are not offered monetary support like their working counterparts and thus their educational lives are disadvantaged. This may at the end make them disillusioned from the legitimate life and form a subculture (Cohen, 1972). Conclusion Deviant subculture is a group of people who develop values and norms that are not acceptable in the culture of the mainstream society. People in the deviant subculture engage in behaviours that threaten the mainstream population because they usually engage in deviant activities so as to attain success, acceptance or recognition which the mainstream culture does not provide. The most common theory of deviant subculture is the subcultural theory. The utilization of subcultural theory to describe deviant behavior developed by Cohen who aspired to explain why majority of delinquent activities were not induced by money like the anomie theory proposes. Cohen concluded that delinquency did not result from concern for monetary success like Merton asserted but rather resulted from the pressures of every dominant value. As working class men adolescents in inner city become unsuccessful in school, they start feeling that they can’t achieve anything in the mainstream society trough legal means and experience the social status frustration. Merton proposed that they turn to criminal activities so as to gain wealth. However, Cohen claimed that they instead create a subculture which takes its values and norms from the bigger culture but turns these norms upside down. References Downes, D. (1966). The Delinquent Solution; a study in subcultural theory. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Meier, R., & Clinard M., (2010). Sociology of deviant behavior, London: Cengage. Koch, S, & Quin, F., (2003). The nature of criminality within one percent motorcycle clubs. Deviant behavior: A interdisciplinary journal, 24,281-305. Barker, T., (2005). One percent biker clubs: a description. Trends in organized crime, 9(1): 11-115. Merton, K., (1936). "The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action". American Sociological Review 1 (6): 894–904. Cohen, K. (1955). Delinquent Boys: The Culture of the Gang, Glencoe. IL: Free Press. Cohen, P. (1972). Sub-cultural Conflict and Working Class Community. Working Papers in Cultural Studies. Birmingham: University of Birmingham. Merton, K. (1938). ‘‘Social Structure and Anomie.’’ American Sociological Review 3:672–682. Miller B., (1958) ‘‘Lower Class Culture as a Generating Milieu of Gang Delinquency.’’ Journal of Social Issues 14:5–19. Jenks, C., (2005). Subculture: the fragmentation of the social. London: Sage. Miller, B., (1959). "Implications of Urban Lower-Class Culture For Social Work". The Social Service Review 33: 219–236 Ohlin, L, & Cloward, R., (1960). Illegitimate means, anomie, and deviant behavior. American sociological review, 24(2): 164-176. Cloward, R., & Ohlin. L., (1960). Delinquency and Opportunity. Glencoe, IL: Free Press Polk, K., & Schafer, W. (1972). Schools and Delinquency. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Read More