A poor person who has little chance to go to college and who sells illegal drugs to make money is one example of deviance that Merton calls "innovation."

Question

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Merton's strain theory suggests that deviance occurs when individuals are unable to achieve societal goals through legitimate means. Innovation is one of the responses to this strain, which involves using alternative, often illegal means to achieve success. Selling illegal drugs to make money is an example of innovation because it involves using an illegal means to achieve financial success.

A Poor Person Who Has Little Chance to Go to College