In Cohen's view, why do lower class individuals commit more crimes?

Cohen's perspective on crime, especially regarding lower-class individuals, emphasizes the concept of status frustration, which arises from their lack of socialization into middle-class values. According to his theory, lower-class individuals often face barriers that inhibit their ability to achieve success in a society that values middle-class aspirations, such as education, stable employment, and social acceptance. As they struggle to meet these societal standards, they may experience a sense of frustration and alienation.

This lack of socialization into middle-class norms and values leads to the formation of alternative subcultures. In these subcultures, behaviors that deviate from mainstream society become normalized, and alternative means of gaining status—including criminal activities—are adopted. Thus, the failure to internalize middle-class values and achieve legitimate means of success significantly contributes to higher rates of crime within lower-class populations.

The other options highlight conditions that do not accurately reflect Cohen's arguments: having higher educational levels or better job opportunities would provide pathways to success, and fewer social issues would generally correlate with lower crime rates, both of which contradict Cohen’s central thesis related to the experiences of the lower class.