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The criminologists who developed the theory, Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin, propose three distinct deviant subcultures. Each subculture had differing levels of access to illegitimate means of obtaining money and power, resulting in different criminal or deviant behaviors, as explored below. 1.
4.4.1 Differential Opportunity Theory. Criminologists Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin (1960) combined Merton’s strain theory with Sutherland’s differential association theory (which will be discussed later in this chapter) to create differential opportunity theory.
Richard A. Cloward und Lloyd E. Ohlin. Theorie. Cloward & Ohlin’s theory of differential opportunities represents a link between learning, subculture, anomie and social desorganisation theories.
The theory of differential opportunity was proposed by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin in 1960. They argued that criminal behavior is not only a result of individual choices, but also a product of the opportunities available to individuals in their social environment.
Cloward and Ohlin's (1961) theory of differential opportunity built upon Merton's strain theory, underscoring the fact that those involved in illegitimate means of opportunity require a set of learned skills as do those involved in legitimate means.
Cloward and Ohlin’s (1960) differential opportunity theory made several significant contributions to criminology, including the emphasis on illegitimate means and the idea that social structure influences criminal opportunity.
Differential opportunity theory was used to explain the emergence of three different delinquent subcultures: the criminal, the conflict, and the retreatist subcultures. Over the years since its inception, differential opportunity theory has received mixed empirical support.