Question

Miller posited that juvenile delinquency stems from lower-class culture and its value system. Discuss the theory and concerns regarding its implications.

Answer 1

• Miller did talk about cultural deviance wherein lower class culture does lead to juvenile delinquency. Being from lower class comes with its problms and strains like lower come,small house and less education which obviously lead to anger and frustation leading to such behaviours and indulging in crimes or thefts.
• He concluded that young males were only acting out in sharper form the established cultural traditions of wider lower class culture.
• He identified a number of 'focal concerns' of lower class culture: 'trouble' - constant tension between law-abiding and law-breaking behaviour; 'toughness'; 'smartness' - doing the 'right thing'; 'excitement'; 'fate' - 'you're either lucky or you aren't'; 'autonomy' -'you're on your own'.
• The roots of criminal behaviour thus lie not in the attempt to counter middle-class values but exist as autonomous elements within lower working-class communities. Delinquency need not be seen as a solution to strain; it is the natural extension of social life in certain communities.
• The focal concerns that Miller outlines all have to do with the individual and how the eyes of other lower-class members perceive them, not how they are perceived by other class members. Also, the fact the focal concerns are primarily male oriented, Miller’s theory does not take into account why females commit crimes.
• Even in reality criminals and even juvenile criminals mostly are reported from lower income families since they have their own struggles and maybe out of helplessness they indulge in these acts. It is less likely in middle and higher income groups. The need for money or even other luxuries sometimes does pushes the teenagers to the edge. And since Miller talks about perception that is very crucial. People belonging to lower class do view themselves inferior to upper income class since they do not have enough money,a big houe,car or even education that can help them. The general perception is that only and also people around in the society also view lower class as lower. And this perception can lead to frustations among young teenagers and even adults too ,to indluge in criminal behaviours.