Cloward and Ohlin: Three subcultures

?

Cloward and Ohlin: Three subcultures

Advantages

  • Explanation for different types of working-class deviance in terms of different subcultures.

Disadvantages

  • Ignore the wider power structures, including who makes and enforces the law.
  • Their theory is too deterministic and over-predicts the extent of working-class crime.
  • They draw the boundaries too sharply between the different types.
  • Criticized for assuming that everyone starts off sharing the same mainstream success goals.

Evaluation

Whatever its strengths and limitations, strain theory has had a major influence both on later theories of crime and on government policy.

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Sociology resources:

See all Sociology resources »See all Crime and deviance resources »