... society. These groups are the boys' gangs that flourish most conspicuously in the 'delinquency neighbourhoods' of our large American cities. (Cohen, 1955: 13) Chicago sociologists focused on the motivations of delinquents. They argued that there is nothing 'wrong' with delinquents - they simply perceive the world in a different mode and act accordingly. The question arises of how and why subcultures exist. Albert Cohen first explicitly used the concept of subculture. Cohen questioned why economic ends did not motivate most delinquent acts. For example, vandalism and graffiti are of no economic benefit to the perpetrator. Cohen's solution was that most delinquents are motivated by status frustration. This is because working class children have to live up to the 'middle class measuring rod', and they fail to live up to these standards, developing feelings of 'deprivation and frustration and strong incentives to find other means to the achievement of status and its symbols' ...

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