Merton states there is a strain between society‘s cultural value system (valuing money) and the social structure which fails to provide opportunities for everyone to achieve these goals legitimately
Merton identifies five adaptations: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion
conformity is when society accept the culturally approved goals and strive to achieve them legitimately
innovation is when individuals accept the money success goal but use illegitimate means to achieve it
ritualism is when individuals give up on the goal but follow the rules for their own sake
retreating is when individuals reject both the goal and illegitimate means and drop out of society
rebellion is when individuals replace the existing goals and bring about new own to bring about social change