Sociology Subcultural Strain Theories of Crime & Deviance 4 (Matza Delinquency and 'Drift')
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- Created on: 24-09-20 16:16
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- Subcultural Strain Theories of Crime & Deviance 4 (Matza)
- Matza (1964): Delinquency and 'Drift'
- David Matza (1964) suggested that delinquency is not a way of life, but rather something people 'drift' in and out of
- He objected Cohen's suggestions that individuals' inability to achieve status within mainstream culture would result in delinquent subculture and claimed that other strain theorists are 'over predicting' delinquency
- In particular Matza argued that this 'drift' occurred more within groups who lacked the most control, which results in what he called 'mood of fatalism'
- We then engage in delinquent behaviour to restore a sense of control and identity known as the 'mood of humanism.'
- However, when people drift back to their conventional values they tend to adopt 'techniques of neutralisation' to justify their actions, including:
- Denial of responsibility
- "It wasn't my fault
- Denial of injury
- "It wasn't a big deal"
- Denial of victim
- "They had it coming"
- Condemnation of condemners
- "You were just as bad in your day"
- Appeal to higher loyalties
- "My friend needed me what was I going to do?"
- Denial of responsibility
- However, when people drift back to their conventional values they tend to adopt 'techniques of neutralisation' to justify their actions, including:
- We then engage in delinquent behaviour to restore a sense of control and identity known as the 'mood of humanism.'
- Mazta argued that there is no distinct set of anti-social values or a distinct group of delinquents. Instead, all people hold two levels of values:
- Respectable and conventional values (e:g good parent)
- Underground or subterranean values (e:g greed)
- David Matza (1964) suggested that delinquency is not a way of life, but rather something people 'drift' in and out of
- Mazta Evaluation
- Weaknesses
- Matza's economic theory ignores group delinquency that exists within a wider structural, social and economic framework
- Some critics are sceptical of the alleged remorse shown by delinquents which Matzo took as an expression of appreciation of mainstream values
- For example, Box (1981) suggests that any remorse shown by criminals may not be sincere at all
- Strengths
- Explains why young men are more likely to be criminals than older men as delinquency declines as they get older
- Weaknesses
- Matza (1964): Delinquency and 'Drift'
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