Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 65 views

    Walter Miller 1958

    Uploaded by

    api-291832916
    Walter Miller argued that the lower class has its own subculture with different values from the mainstream. This subculture does not value mainstream success, so lower class members are not frustrated by failure to achieve mainstream goals. Instead, they pursue their own "focal concerns" like masculinity, excitement, and anti-authority attitudes as an alternative means to find purpose and avoid boredom. Miller believes this potentially deviant working class culture leads to delinquency through behaviors like violence and confrontation with authorities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content

    You might also like

    Walter Miller 1958

    Uploaded by

    api-291832916
    65 views5 pages
    Walter Miller argued that the lower class has its own subculture with different values from the mainstream. This subculture does not value mainstream success, so lower class members are not frustrated by failure to achieve mainstream goals. Instead, they pursue their own "focal concerns" like masculinity, excitement, and anti-authority attitudes as an alternative means to find purpose and avoid boredom. Miller believes this potentially deviant working class culture leads to delinquency through behaviors like violence and confrontation with authorities.

    Original Description:

    Original Title

    walter miller 1958

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Walter Miller argued that the lower class has its own subculture with different values from the mainstream. This subculture does not value mainstream success, so lower class members are not frustrated by failure to achieve mainstream goals. Instead, they pursue their own "focal concerns" like masculinity, excitement, and anti-authority attitudes as an alternative means to find purpose and avoid boredom. Miller believes this potentially deviant working class culture leads to delinquency through behaviors like violence and confrontation with authorities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    65 views5 pages

    Walter Miller 1958

    Uploaded by

    api-291832916
    Walter Miller argued that the lower class has its own subculture with different values from the mainstream. This subculture does not value mainstream success, so lower class members are not frustrated by failure to achieve mainstream goals. Instead, they pursue their own "focal concerns" like masculinity, excitement, and anti-authority attitudes as an alternative means to find purpose and avoid boredom. Miller believes this potentially deviant working class culture leads to delinquency through behaviors like violence and confrontation with authorities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 5

    Walter Miller (1958)

    By Jack Griffiths and Shannelle


    OHagan

    His arguments
    That the lower class has its own independent
    subculture separate from mainstream culture, with
    its own values.
    The subculture doesn't value success in the first
    place so its members are not frustrated by failure.
    Although he agrees with deviance being wide spread
    in the lower class, he argues this arise as an attempt
    to achieve their own goals, not mainstream goals.
    These are called Focal concerns
    The is an criticism of Cohen's theory

    Focal concerns
    It gives means to lives outside of work
    These includes:
    Heightened sense of masculinity, which sees violence as a
    acceptable problem solving device.
    A desire for excitement
    They thrive for anti-authority
    This compensates for boredom of school and factory jobs.
    however it may cause confrontation between teachers
    and police.
    Miller blames working class delinquency on what he sees as
    the potentially deviant behaviour of working class culture

    An Example of Focal concern


    One of the focal concerns is autonomy
    The lower classes believe in freedom and
    independence and hate being told what to do.
    This may bring them into conflict with
    authorities
    Millers Ideas assume all lower class males are
    seen to act out this subculture with little
    reference to mainstream society
    Yet not all working class boys want to fail in
    education

    Question time
    What are the three types of focal concern?
    Hint ( the bullet points )
    Summarise what is focal concern?
    Why are the working class not frustrated
    when they don't succeed?

    You might also like