In
criminology
Criminology (from Latin , 'accusation', and Ancient Greek , ''-logia'', from λόγος ''logos'', 'word, reason') is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behaviour. Criminology is a multidisciplinary field in both the behaviou ...
, 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, and autonomy.
Miller described these focal concerns as "areas or issues which command widespread and persistent attention and a high degree of emotional involvement."
Miller's theory, as it is often referred to, views these criminogenic influences as a learned part of the lower-class subculture values.
In essence, the theory suggests that delinquency is part of the learned cultural values rather than an
anomic
In sociology, anomie or anomy () is a social condition defined by an uprooting or breakdown of any moral values, standards or guidance for individuals to follow. Anomie is believed to possibly evolve from conflict of belief systems and causes b ...
reaction to unattainable goals.
See also
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Core values
*
David Matza
David Matza (May 1, 1930 – March 14, 2018) was an American sociologist who taught at University of California, Berkeley from 1961.
Life and work
Born in New York, he received his PhD from Princeton University in 1959. His research fields inclu ...
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Sentencing disparity
Sentencing disparity or ''sentencing discrimination'' is defined as "a form of unequal treatment in criminal punishment".
Variation among judges
Two judges could be faced with a similar case and one could order a very harsh sentence while another ...
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Social values
In ethics and social sciences, value denotes the degree of importance of some thing or action, with the aim of determining which actions are best to do or what way is best to live (normative ethics), or to describe the significance of different ac ...
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Uncertainty avoidance
In cross-cultural psychology, uncertainty avoidance is how cultures differ on the amount of tolerance they have of unpredictability. Uncertainty avoidance is one of five key qualities or ''dimensions'' measured by the researchers who developed the ...
References
Bibliography
* Cohen, Albert. Delinquent Boys (New York: Free press, 1995) pg. 19–25
* Miller, Walter. "Lower-class Culture as a Generating Milieu of Gang Delinquency", Journal of Social Issues 14 (1958): 5–19
* Flowers, Barri R. The Adolescent Criminal: An Examination of Today's Juvenile Offender. McFarland & Company, Inc. 108–109
Further reading
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* Frank, James., Stoddard, Cody., Engel, Robin. and Haas, Stephen. "Through the Court's Eyes: A New Look at Focal Concerns Theory" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA, Nov 01, 2006
. 2009-05-24
External links
Concerning Conceptualization and Operationalization:Sentencing Data and the Focal Concerns Perspective—A Research Note
The Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice
{{social and political philosophy
Sentencing (law)
Subculture theory
Social theories