Final answer:
Albert Cohen suggests that boys living in disadvantaged communities who face frustration over their limited prospects for material success may turn to deviant behaviors or join delinquent subcultures that offer an alternative set of values. These behaviors are a response to systemic barriers and the lack of legitimate opportunities for success. Economic inequality, social class, and social disorganization contribute to the decision of engaging in such responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Response to Frustration According to Albert Cohen
Boys who live in a disadvantaged community may become frustrated with their prospects for material success, feeling a sense of hopelessness and despair. Albert Cohen suggests that one response to this frustration can be the engagement in deviant behaviors or joining delinquent subcultures as a means to cope with the lack of legitimate opportunities. These subcultures offer an alternative set of values and norms that give individuals status and acceptance they may not find in mainstream society. The challenge of balancing schoolwork and other familial responsibilities, along with limited resources such as access to technology, creates significant barriers to achieving success within the conventional social framework.
Factors contributing to this situation include economic inequality, the correlation between social class and educational outcomes, and the pressures from social disorganization. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often struggle with educational attainment due to these systemic disadvantages. Cohen's theory suggests that when mainstream society fails to provide viable pathways to success, alternative responses to frustration may manifest, which can sometimes include criminal activity as a survival strategy. The disparity in the ladder of opportunity results in different life trajectories for youths from various social backgrounds, regardless of their talents or efforts.