An Empirical Test of the Subculture of Violence and Miller's Theory of Lower Class Delinquency

There has been a continuing debate over the validity of subcultural theories for the past two decades. The importance of the correct answers lies in the implications for treatment of juvenile gangs. The results of previous studies have been inconclusive with some researchers finding support for various subcultural theories while others have denied the existence of lower class subcultures. This study entailed an empirical test of the subculture of violence (Wolfgang and Ferracuti) and Miller's theory of lower class delinquency. The data analyzed were drawn from the National Survey of Crime Severity conducted by the Center for Studies in Criminology and Criminal Law at the University of Pennsylvania. Subjects were given questionnaires in which they responded to various offense descriptions with a score based on perceived severity. In the present study, regression equations were formed using the severity score as the dependant variable and several demographic details as independant variables. Results indicated race, income, and education as significant predictors in the expected direction, providing some support for both Wolfgang and Ferracuti's and Miller's theories. Based on the responses, it appears that there do exist violent and delinquent subcultures in the lower class.