Illegitimate opportunity theory is a sociological theory that explains how individuals and groups may be disadvantaged in society due to their lack of access to legitimate opportunities. This theory suggests that certain individuals or groups may be excluded from participating in mainstream society due to their race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or other social characteristics.
The concept of legitimate opportunity refers to the availability of opportunities that are seen as fair and appropriate within a particular society. For example, in a society where education is highly valued, access to education may be considered a legitimate opportunity. On the other hand, if an individual or group is denied access to education due to their social characteristics, they may be disadvantaged in terms of their economic and social mobility.
Illegitimate opportunity theory suggests that individuals and groups who are disadvantaged in terms of access to legitimate opportunities may turn to alternative means of achieving success. This may include participating in illegal or underground activities, or seeking out opportunities that are less mainstream or less socially accepted.
One example of illegitimate opportunity theory in action is the way that individuals from disadvantaged racial or ethnic backgrounds may be excluded from mainstream job opportunities due to discrimination. These individuals may then turn to the informal economy or to illegal activities as a means of making a living.
Illegitimate opportunity theory also highlights the importance of social and economic inequality in shaping an individual's opportunities and outcomes. If certain individuals or groups are consistently denied access to legitimate opportunities due to their social characteristics, they may be trapped in a cycle of poverty and disadvantage.
In conclusion, illegitimate opportunity theory offers a useful framework for understanding how social inequalities can impact an individual's access to opportunities and success. By recognizing and addressing these inequalities, we can work towards creating a more just and equal society.
Cloward and Ohlin: Illegitimate Opportunity Structures (1960)
The way that these goals are obtained depends on the type of group to which the young people belong. Cohen believed that working-class boys wished to emulate middle-class values and aspirations, but lacked the means of achieving success. A fundamental principle of economics is that every choice has an opportunity cost. As a result, criminologists must define the cultural codes and traits that define that subculture such as codes of speech and conduct, styles of dress, shared emotions, and common problems — and, in turn, investigate the ways in which criminality within the subculture can offer members of the subculture a solution to a shared problem. In effect, it has to provide people with the opportunity for advancement "promotion" as an alternative to the legitimate job market, for example. They do not question why, in the meritocratic society described by most functionalists, working-class youths are generally denied access to legitimate opportunity structures. Cowan and Ohlin emphasized how the structures of these deviant subcultures paralleled the rules and operations of more socially acceptable institutions.
The Illegitimate Opportunities Theory
If you recall, social strain theory develops a typology of deviance in which an individual can deviate on two planes. So for Merton, deviance, and crime are, in large part, a result of anomie, a state of social disorder. What are problems that block programs from being installed? Subcultural theory emphasizes how criminals in their own view do not act criminally. What are the 5 reactions to strain? What is an example of an illegitimate opportunity structure? Adult criminals in this subculture exercise social control over the young to prevent them from carrying out non-utilitarian delinquent acts — such as vandalism — which could attract the attention of the police. Are Cloward and Ohlin a functionalist? Subcultures have values and ideals that are different, and often in conflict with, the broader, or majority, culture.
What is the illegitimate opportunity theory?
Cloward and Ohlin were particularly interested in how the opportunities available to young people affect their choices about life and crime. Merton, Cohen and others have already been accused of this narrow view. What is theory of neutralization? You need to be able to measure these goals. For example, when working-class young people cannot find a well-paying job or achieve middle-class status, they may turn to crime in an effort to create a better life. Who created the opportunity theory? Everyone also, according to Matza, has a set of subterranean values — such as greed and aggressiveness — which are generally controlled, but may appear in particular situations.
Theory of differential opportunities (Cloward & Ohlin)
In a conflict subculture, youth learn to form gangs as a way to express frustration about the lack of normative opportunity structures in their neighborhood. The basic assumption of Cloward and Ohlin that criminal acts are in principle always reactions to status and adaptation problems is and remains debatable. For example, drug trafficking is more difficult to access in some parts of the city than in others. The young criminal can begin to model themselves upon such people - they represent tangible evidence of the fact that crime does pay and that crime is a potential route out of poverty, deprivation, low social status and so forth. Coupled with no other opportunities to join in criminal activity, young people feel unable to gain status or wealth from any activity, legal or otherwise. The aims of a conflict gang are less financially motivated than they are socially motivated.
Cloward & Ohlin's Theory of Opportunity
Is it possible to have more than three goals? A stable, cohesive, working class community: In this respect, the potential criminal will be able to develop contacts within both the mainstream working class culture and the criminal sub-culture for example, stolen goods can be easily distributed through a wider mainstream culture that doesn't ask too many questions. Merton theorized about how members of a society respond to cultural goals and institutionalized means. Cloward and Ohlin integrated two distinct theoretical perspectives into their differential opportunity theory see Kornhauser, 1978 for a discussion of the mixed model as well as a critique. What remains in any case is the criticism that not every offence needs specific opportunities or certain illegitimate means to be executed. The idea behind opportunity cost is that the cost of one item is the lost opportunity to do or consume something else; in short, opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative.
