Explanations of Crime
Sociology: AQA GCSE, topic 4.3.1
Status Frustration (Cohen, 1955)
There are many different explanations of crime and deviance. Status frustration theory is a sociological approach.
Sociological perspective
- The working class have the same goals as the rest of society but due to lack of qualifications and opportunities they can’t succeed and this is why they experience status frustration.
- Nowadays this status frustration can be even greater as societies have become even more unequal and materialistic.
- A contemporary example of status frustration is the London riots of 2011.
Cohen
- Cohen is a functionalist.
- He believes that working class boys hold the same success goals as the wider society, but because of educational failure and consequently low employment opportunities, they can’t achieve their goals.
Cultural deprivation
- Cohen holds the view that cultural deprivation is one of the reasons for poor educational achievements.
- They can’t move up the hierarchy and therefore are stuck at the bottom of the system, so they suffer from status frustration.
Gaining status
- Consequently, they turn to criminality by becoming members of a criminal subculture which values deviant or illegal activities such as stealing, vandalism and truancy.
- Those who conform to the values of the subculture are rewarded with the recognition of their peers and gain status.
Criticisms
- Cohen has been criticised as he assumes that all working-class youths accept mainstream success goals; he doesn’t think that they might exhibit delinquent behaviour out of resentment against those whose values they do not share e.g. teachers.
Test yourself on Explanations of Crime
What does Cohen think is one of the reasons for poor educational achievements?
Who studied status frustration in working class boys?