SOC-3340 Lecture 8: SOC section 1.8 notes
8 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Gangs and delinquency: classical gang research. Cohen"s middle class measuring rod: theorized there was a difference in the values taught to lower/working class kids vs middle class kids, lower class values: There is little concern for long term planning. Kids taught to obey for fear of punishment not to obey for justifiable reasons: middle class values: Long term planning is key to success. Cohen theorized that lower class boys will have been unable to live up to middle class standards will come together in groups because they share common interests/behaviors. Plus, while these boys have rejected sources of middle class success and status, they still have yet to achieve status on their own. In the gang, they can achieve status among their peers through continued group level reaction against middle class ideals. Criminal gangs: found in neighborhoods where there is organized adult criminal activity, adolescents learn criminal behaviors from these adult models, crime patterns continue.
