S/CJ 213 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Differential Association, Thorsten Sellin, Ernest Burgess
13 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
1
Criminology
Spring 2017
Dr. Roberts
Exam 2 Study Guide
Readings
➢ AML Book – Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9
➢ Any materials handed out in class or posted on D2L course page
Key Names & Terminology
Chapter 5 – Strain and Cultural Deviance Theories
➢ Robert Merton – “Strain Theory” = real problem is created by a social structure
that holds out the same goals to all its member’s w/o giving them equal means to
attain them (disconnect between goals and means)
o Modes of Adaptation
▪ Conformity = individuals accept culturally defined goals and
means for achieving (most common response)
▪ Innovation = accept the goals but not the means to get there, i.e.
get a job (typical criminal response)
▪ Ritualism = abandon society’s goals and concentrate only on the
means (accept the means)
▪ Retreatism = individuals who give up on the goals (can’t make it)
and the means (why try)
▪ Rebellion = individuals who reject the cultural goals and the
institutional means and substitute new goals/means
➢ Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld – “The American Dream” = goal of
material success is pervasive in American culture
o American Dream = succeed by any means necessary (monetary success)
▪ High crime rates are more than a matter of striving for monetary
gains – social institutions do not have capacity to
control/counterbalance the ‘American Dream’
o Dominance of economic institutions manifests itself in 3 ways
▪ Devaluation of noneconomic role and functions
• Performance of economic world takes precedent over
performance in other institutional settings – devaluation of
education – only important for means of economic gain
▪ Accommodation of other institutions to economic needs
• In situations where institutions compete – work vs. home
life – work always wins; non-economic ones
‘accommodate’
▪ Penetration of economic norms
• Example: Spouses become partners in ‘managing’ the
home
➢ Robert Agnew – “General Strain Theory”
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2
o Strain producing events:
▪ Strain caused by failure to achieve positively valued goals
(Merton)
▪ Strain caused by removal of positively valued stimuli (death of
parent) (Agnew)
▪ Strain caused by presentation of negative stimuli (physical abuse,
problems at school) (Agnew)
– Not all those who experience strain act out aggressively– capacity to deal with
strain depends on personal experience–
➢ Cultural Deviance Theories
o Strain vs. Cultural Deviance
▪ Strain = attributes criminal behavior to striving of citizens to
conform
▪ Cultural Deviance = attributes crime to values that exist in
disadvantaged neighborhoods
➢ 3 major cultural deviance theories:
o Social Disorganization Theory
o Differential Association Theory
o Culture Conflict Theory
➢ Social Disorganization
o William Thomas and Florian Znanlecki (coined term)
▪ Examined life experiences of polish peasants as they traveled to
U.S. – transition more difficult for 2nd generation immigrants – rate
of crime/delinquency rose in young immigrants
▪ Attributed to ‘social disorganization’ = the breakdown of effective
social bonds, family and neighborhood associations, and social
controls in neighborhoods/communities
o Robert Park and Ernest Burgess
▪ Introduced ecological analysis into study of human behavior by
examining area characteristics
▪ “Concentric Zones” in Chicago
• found most social disorganization in ‘zone of transition’
(middle)
• crime rates start to stabilize as you move outward
o Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay – “Social Disorganization Theory”
▪ Some areas consistently suffered high delinquency rates, regardless
of ethnic makeup of populations (diversion from biological defects
because it was environment)
▪ “Culture Transmission” = delinquency transmitted from one
generation to the next in disorganized areas
➢ Edwin Sutherland – “Differential Association Theory”
o 9 propositions – built on findings of Shaw & McKay (cultural
transmission)
➢ Cultural conflict
o Focuses on the source of criminal norms and attitudes
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3
o Thorsten Sellin – “Conduct Norms” = norms that regulate our daily lives –
reflect attitude of the group to which each of us belong
▪ In high crime neighborhoods crime is accepted – retaliation is
necessary
▪ Distinguishes between primary and secondary conflicts:
• Primary conflicts = occurs when norms of 2 cultures clash
• Secondary conflicts = arises when one single culture
evolves into variety of cultures – each with its own set of
conduct norms (competing gangs)
Chapter 6 – Subcultural Theories
➢ Developed to account for delinquency among lower-class males - explain teenage
gang formation.
➢ Combine concepts of “Strain” and “Cultural Deviance” Theories
➢ Albert Cohen – “Middle-Class Measuring Rod”
o Delinquent subcultures emerge in the slum of areas of large American
cities – rooted in class differentials, parental aspirations…
o Lower-class families cannot socialize their kids in ways that prepare them
for middle-class life – grow up w/ poor communication skills, lack of
commitment to education
o Problems arise in school when lower-class kids evaluated by middle-class
teachers don’t meet their standards
o Adoption of one of 3 roles
▪ Corner boy = most common, hang out w/ friends, menial job,
conventional lifestyle (ritualist)
▪ College boy = very few end up here, continually strive for middle-
class standards, very few succeed because of academic/social
handicaps (conformity)
▪ Delinquent boy = band together to form subculture
• ‘Reaction Formation’ = reject w/ abnormal intensity what
one wants but can’t attain; turn middle-class norms upside
down
• Delinquent acts serve no useful purpose
➢ Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin – “Differential Opportunity Theory”
o Assumption that conventional means to conventional success are not
equally distributed, that lack of means causes frustration for lower-class
youths, and that criminal behavior is learned and culturally transmitted
o Type of neighborhood determines type of gang/subculture
▪ Criminal gangs = (theft gangs)
• Emerge where there is stable integration of
criminal/conventional values, beliefs, and businesses
• Older criminals serve as role models
▪ Conflict gangs = (violent gangs)
• Emerge in lower-class areas where neither criminals or
conventional role models exercise much control over young
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Aml book chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9. Any materials handed out in class or posted on d2l course page. Chapter 5 strain and cultural deviance theories. In situations where institutions compete work vs. home life work always wins; non-economic ones. Accommodate": penetration of economic norms, example: spouses become partners in managing" the. Robert agnew general strain theory home. 1: strain producing events, strain caused by failure to achieve positively valued goals (merton, strain caused by removal of positively valued stimuli (death of parent) (agnew, strain caused by presentation of negative stimuli (physical abuse, Not all those who experience strain act out aggressively capacity to deal with problems at school) (agnew) strain depends on personal experience . Cultural deviance: strain = attributes criminal behavior to striving of citizens to conform, cultural deviance = attributes crime to values that exist in. 3 major cultural deviance theories: disadvantaged neighborhoods: social disorganization theory, differential association theory, culture conflict theory.
