Subculture Theory Essay

In Subculture Theory many theorists were interested in explaining delinquent gangs, which were believed to be the most common form of delinquency. The Subculture Theory was made up of several different theories that were all related to each other. Subculture theories provided explanations of how groups of individuals develop similar values and rationales for behavior (Williams & McKay, 2014). One theory within Subculture Theory was called the delinquent subculture theory by Albert Cohen. Another theory in the Subculture Theory was the differential opportunity formed by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin. The third theory by Walter Miller used direct observation of social groups in their natural setting. All four theories were interest in of the Subculture Theory could develop (Williams & Mckay, 2014). The last major theory was very different theories and was created by Wolfgang and Ferracuti. All these theories in the Subculture Theory were very different but were all related in some way.
Albert Cohen’s book Delinquent Boys: The Culture of the Gang was the first attempt for Cohen to solve the problem of how delinquent subcultures could begin (Williams & McKay, 2014). Cohen found that delinquent behavior was found among the lower class white males and the most common form was called gangs (Williams & McKay, 2014). Gangs were characterized by the behavior that was nonutilitarian which was no reason for doing something, malicious an individual was just mean, and negativistic was to negate the middle class. Statues played an important role in the subculture theories, which status was a way to think of ourselves in reference to other people (Williams & McKay, 2014). Cohen said “everyone wants status but not everyone can compete for stat...

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... The second theory was a theory by Cloward and Ohlin which was called differential opportunity theory. Differential opportunity theory built off of Solomon Kobrin’s work of an integrated community. The third theory was a theory created by Walter Miller who came to different conclusion than the first two theories. Miller used an ethnography which was a technique based on the direct observation of a social group in their natural setting (Williams & McKay, 2014). The last major theory was a theory by Marvin Wolfgang and Franco Ferracuti that was created a decade after the delinquent subculture theory. Wolfgang and Ferracuti attempted to integrate a wide range of disciplinary approaches to understand delinquent behavior (Williams & McKay, 2014). The four theories within the Subculture Theory were all different in ways but were all related to each other in ways also.