Cloward & Ohlin's three subcultures
Cloward & Ohlin developed strain theory, identifying three delinquent subcultures based on access to illegitimate opportunities: criminal, conflict, and retreatist.
Real World
Chicago street gangs in organised drug-trade neighbourhoods (criminal subculture), rival gangs violently competing for turf in unstable inner-city areas (conflict subculture), and isolated heroin users with no gang ties (retreatist subculture) all map directly onto Cloward and Ohlin's three types.
Exam Focus
For application questions, identify which subculture fits the scenario and justify why using access to illegitimate opportunity — the key concept examiners look for.
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