Susan would love to be a lawyer but cannot afford to go to law school. Her boyfriend suggested that she steal from her grandmother's estate in order to finance her education, but she refused. Instead, she took a two-year course and became a librarian. Robert Merton would classify Susan's actions as:
A) Conformity
B) Innovation
C) Ritualism
D) Retreatism

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Susan's decision to become a librarian instead of stealing from her grandmother's estate shows that she has rejected the cultural goals of becoming a lawyer, but still follows the means to achieve it (hard work and education). This fits the definition of ritualism according to Merton's strain theory.

Susan Would Love to Be a Lawyer but Cannot Afford