delinquent behaviour. They become frustrated at the disadvantages and inequalities they face, this then leads to reaction formation, were these young men replace societies norms and replace them with their own or alternative ones. Instead of striving for money or success, they join delinquent subcultures in order to steal or commit acts of vandalism in order to gain respect. The status they receive in the gang for their delinquency gives them a sense of status and belonging, something that the larger society cannot give them. The group adopts its own means and values in order to exclude themselves from society. This theory explains non- utilitarian crime such as stealing objects of no value, vandalism and general delinquency (Cohen 1955 p132-135).
However Cohen (1955 p135) states, “For most delinquents, delinquency would not be available as a response were it not