Albert Cohen - builds on Merton's work - but focuses on the position of groups in society.
He argues that working class youth believe in the success goals of mainstream culture.
Experiences of failure in education etc. mean they have little opportunities to attain these goals by approved means.
Feel they are denied status in the mainstream society and experience status frustration.
They react by developing an alternative distinctive set of values - a delinquent subculture.
Evaluation
Looks at a group - social class - rather than individuals.
Young working-class delinquents accept the mainstream values as superior and desirable.
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