Cohen - Status Frustration

Cohen agrees with Merton that deviance is largely a working class phenomenon. However, Cohen criticises Merton for 2 reasons:

1. Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain, ignoring the fact that much deviance is committed in groups, especially among the young.

2.Merton focuses on utilitarian crime committed for material gain - such as theft. He igores crimes such as assult and vandalism, which may have no monetary profit.

Cohen focuses on deviance among working class (w/c) boys. He argues that they face anomie in the middle class school system. This links to cultural deprivation…