Question

Cultural deviance theories of delinquency propose that delinquents and criminals have value systems or norms that differ from those of conformists. In effect, they say that lower-class youths do not aspire to middle-class values because they have their own lower-class values, or __________, which encourage involvement in delinquent behavior.

Answer 1

In effect, they say that lower-class youths do not aspire to middle-class values because they have their own lower-class values, or focal concerns which encourage involvement in delinquent behavior. Delinquents and criminals have value systems or norms that differ from those of conformists.

Explanation:

Cultural deviance theory states that an individual is not inherently deviant and he has not evolved to commit crimes. An individual is forced to be deviant from the societal norms due to the place and the structure of the community and the society in which he lives.

Poverty, illiteracy and ethnic diversity and broken families are the factors which constitute for an individual to become a delinquent. It is observed that the value system and the set of beliefs of a delinquent is invariably different to a conformist.