Merton's Cultural Deviance Theory

Theory is essential for capturing the fundamental nature of criminology. Cultural deviance theories combine social disorganization and strain in order to explain why lower class neighborhoods respond the way they do when they cannot attain a social status. The work of Robert K. Merton’s theory of anomie has further influenced the theoretical work of Richard Cloward, Lloyd Ohlin, and Albert Cohen which elaborates on cultural deviance theories. People share most of the same values and goals such as a nice home, new car, and a good education. However the hierarchical order of social classes makes it difficult to achieve those goals when the legitimate means are unavailable. Let’s take a look at the theory differential opportunity and theory of …show more content…
This theory is also known as the lower class reaction theory due to the unintentional discrimination of their way of life by the middle class. The lower class lacks the means necessary to achieve an aspired status, furthermore unable to attain the middle class success. Reacting to discrimination, juveniles reject those middle class values and goals in order to boost their self-esteem. In this case, the parents themselves lack the skills necessary to achieve middle class success. An implication that family structure is important, consequently parents are unable to teach their children the required skills. This process moreover blocks juveniles from attaining such values and goals. In his theoretical approach Cohen suggests that juveniles engage in delinquent subcultures by associating with people who engage in delinquent practices found in inner city environment. Delinquency here is not acted out in need of valuables but rather for vicious reasons that may result in a status or gained …show more content…
Middle-class measuring rods demonstrate how the inability to impress influential figures, significantly hinders their capacity to meet the values set by the middle class. Failure to meet the standards set forth and rejected by the middle class, juveniles fall into one of three deviant subcultures formed. The corner boy, the most common of the three becomes an established member of the neighborhood. This member unable to attain success settles in place and forms a family, however engages in recreational delinquent activities. This corner boy has found support in those in the neighborhood who he has created relationships with. The college boy is a member who continuously strives to achieve the middle class status, nevertheless will fail because he has been ill prepared; this person continues to fight a lost battle. The delinquent boy adopts a set of values that contradicts those set forth by the middles class. These members do not allow the influential figures of the middle-class measuring rod to dictate their behavior. In response boys are more prone to join a gang as a means of seeking acceptance. Within the delinquent boy, Cohen point outs a reaction formation, this is an overreaction to the slightest threat. They ridicule the corner boy and criticize the continuous attempts of the college boy; delinquent boys are prepared to take risks. Through middle-class measuring rods and the formation of deviant