Author's Endeavor

The author's endeavor is to deconstruct important influences the American dream has on individuals' personality.

Social Structure and Goal Achievement

In the American social structure, there exists a conflict between legitimate and illegitimate means of goal achievement. The design of social structure indicates the manner in which institutions within the society exhibit predictable patterns of behavior those individuals depend on in daily social interaction.

Criminal Personality and Social Pressure

Secondly, criminal personality emerges from a social structure that exerts pressure on certain individuals to achieve the American dream.

Class Mobility and Cultural Values

Moreover, he examines how individuals shift from one class status to another within the social structure because of the pressure to achieve success.

Model of Adaptation and Strategies

Finally, he displays a comprehensive model of adaptation that illustrates, explains, and classifies where individuals fit in the continuum of adopting cultural values and suggests several strategies societies can use to decrease criminal personality.