In criminology, the focal concerns theory, posited in 1962 by Walter B. Miller, attempts to explain the behavior of "members of adolescent street corner groups in lower class communities" as concern for six focal concerns: trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, fate, autonomy.[1] Miller described these focal concerns as "areas or issues which command widespread and persistent attention and a high degree of emotional involvement."[2] Miller's theory, as it is often referred to, views these criminogenic influences as a learned part of the lower-class subculture values.[3] In essence, the theory suggests that delinquency is in fact part of the learned cultural values rather than an anomic reaction to unattainable goals.
What is the primary focus of Walter Miller’s “Focal Concerns” theory?
According to Walter Miller’s “Focal Concerns” lower class boys are more prone to crime than middle class boys. Why is this?
because they place more importance on particular values that are associated with crime
What are the “focal concerns” or values of lower class boys according to "Focal Concerns" theory?
(1) toughness(2) trouble(3) smartness(4) excitement(5) fate (6) autonomy
Which "focal concern" is this: having physical strength,
Which "focal concern" is this: a willingness to fight
Which "focal concern" is this: being soft or sentimental is devalued
Which "focal concern" is this: high value is placed on getting in and staying out of sticky situations
Which "focal concern" is this: being streetwise and able to outfox or outcome someone else
Which "focal concern" is this: a belief that life is guided by things outside of your control
Which "focal concern" is this: the search for fun to liven up an otherwise boring life
Which "focal concern" is this: so these teenagers and young adults take more chances to get lucky or “hit the jackpot”
Which "focal concern" is this: high value is placed on personal freedom
Which "focal concern" is this: being “your own man” and not being under the control
What is the problem with Walter Miller’s “Focal Concerns”?
regardless of class and gender many teens exhibit these characteristics
What is a “subculture of violence”?
interpersonal violence is an expression of subcultural norms and values
The "__________ ___ _______" was extended to account for the high rates of violence in southern U.S. states.
The "subculture of violence" was extended to account for the high rates of ________ in _________ U.S. states.
True or False: In some cultures, violence is an expected, tolerated, and even demand means of settling disputes.
In some cultures, violence is an expected, tolerated, and even demand means of settling disputes. How does this type of mindset develop?
this is learned at the how by how parents discipline their kids and how they are childhood play is responded to
Who created “subculture of violence” and when?
initially developed by Marvin Wolfgang and Franco Ferracutti in the late 1960’s
What is the “code of the street”?
an unwritten and informal set of rules that have emerged in inner-city communities as a response to various social problems
Who created the term “code of the street”?
Elijah Anderson in the late 90’s
How is the “code of the street” developed?
violence is learned and reinforced in particular geographical areas and within particular cultural traditions
Inner-city kids learn to “_____ ______” and act like “decent folks”.
Inner-city kids learn to “code switch” and act like “_______ _____”.
Violence is both ________ and ___________ by the normative rules of engagement and disengagement that underlie this “code of the street”.
Violence is both enabled and constrained by the _________ ______ of engagement and disengagement that underlie this “code of the street”.
Violence is both enabled and constrained by the normative rules of ____________ and ____________ that underlie this “code of the street”.
What type of street verbalizations reflect the “code of the street”?
-“watch your back”-"protect yourself”-“don’t punk out”-“respect yourself” -“if someone disses you, you gotta straighten them out”
Why is violence relatively common in inner-city areas?
they are staging areas for demonstrating, maintaining, and/or enhancing one’s reputation as someone who can handle themselves and shouldn’t be messed with
Who created the Anomie/Strain theory?
What is Merton’s Anomie/Strain Theory?
attributes high crime rates directly to the social structure and culture of this society
Why does society have strain?
(1) American society places enormous cultural value on the achievement of material success, but the legitimate social structural or institutional means of achieving this goal are limited (2) We have a strain between cultural goals and structural means of achieving them (especially in the lower class)
contradiction between the cultural message and the social structure of society
Who experiences “anomie”?
may be experienced by any social group
What are the various modes of adaption to this anomic friction between the cultural goals and the institutionalized means of achieving them?
(1) conformity(2) innovation(3) ritualism(4) retreatism (5) rebellion
Which mode of adaption to anomic friction is this:
Which mode of adaption to anomic friction is this:
Which mode of adaption to anomic friction is this:
Which mode of adaption to anomic friction is this:
Which mode of adaption to anomic friction is this:
What is Cloward and Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity Theory?
differential opportunity for both legitimate and illegitimate pathways to living the American Dream
______ often provide illegitimate opportunities.
What are the different type of gangs?
(1) criminal gangs(2) conflict gangs (3) retreatist gangs
What are the characteristics of criminal gangs?
-provide its recruits some monetary gain through organized criminal activities -gang members have a particular skill that provides a limited opportunity for them to achieve some material success
What are the characteristics of conflict gangs?
-provide only a very small number of juveniles and young adults access to material success by being the “tough guy” or “enforcer” -only a small number of enforcers are needed for any criminal organization
True or False: the illegal opportunities for success through conflict gangs are extremely limited
What are the characteristics of retreatist gangs?
-involve juvenile and young adults who are called “double losers”-criminal organizations provide no illegitimate opportunities for them and they are blocked from achieving success goals through legitimate avenues -they retreat, by getting high and drunk because of this failure on both domains
Because this theory presumes that most people want to live American dream of economic success what does it suggest?
it suggests that the simpler pathway to a crime-free society is by providing greater legitimate opportunity for everyone |
All of the following are considered part of the six focal concerns proposed by Miller EXCEPT
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