(Nannini) It states that children either come to school equipped with the tools needed for success or they do not, and that is because of their social class. (Nannini) Student’s failure in school can then lead to frustration, which can in turn lead them to reject the “middle-class norm” and begin engaging delinquent behavior. In Alex’s case, his pattern of behavior follows this theory to a T. He cannot afford class materials like textbooks, or a tutor, which can be considered “tools needed for success”, because his family is of a low social class. He then begins to fall behind while his other middle-class classmates continue to excel; which causes him to become frustrated at the fact that he is failing due to his socioeconomic status. According to Cohen’s theory, the probability of delinquency is starting to present itself in Alex’s situation. He then becomes so frustrated that he drops out of school and starts to commit crimes, just as the Status Frustration theory predicts. Soon after dropping out of school, Alex descends into a life of crime, slowly feeding his hatred and rejection of the social norms that surround him, thus creating a delinquent. It is at this point that Alex has fully implemented Cohen’s theory, as he has transformed into a criminal due to the overwhelming pressures that come with his family’s socioeconomic status and failure in
(Nannini) It states that children either come to school equipped with the tools needed for success or they do not, and that is because of their social class. (Nannini) Student’s failure in school can then lead to frustration, which can in turn lead them to reject the “middle-class norm” and begin engaging delinquent behavior. In Alex’s case, his pattern of behavior follows this theory to a T. He cannot afford class materials like textbooks, or a tutor, which can be considered “tools needed for success”, because his family is of a low social class. He then begins to fall behind while his other middle-class classmates continue to excel; which causes him to become frustrated at the fact that he is failing due to his socioeconomic status. According to Cohen’s theory, the probability of delinquency is starting to present itself in Alex’s situation. He then becomes so frustrated that he drops out of school and starts to commit crimes, just as the Status Frustration theory predicts. Soon after dropping out of school, Alex descends into a life of crime, slowly feeding his hatred and rejection of the social norms that surround him, thus creating a delinquent. It is at this point that Alex has fully implemented Cohen’s theory, as he has transformed into a criminal due to the overwhelming pressures that come with his family’s socioeconomic status and failure in