According to Robert Merton , one of America 's preeminent sociologists , although most people share common values and goals , the means for legitimate economic and social success are stratified by socioeconomic class . Without acceptable means for obtaining success , individuals feel social and psychological strain Merton called this condition anomie . Consequently , these youths may either (1 ) use deviant methods to achieve their goals (for example , stealing money , or (2 ) reject socially accepted goals and substitute deviant ones (for example , becoming drug users...











SUBJECTS

