According to Merton's theory, which strategy is NOT one of the five ways individuals can pursue societal goals?

Merton's strain theory categorizes individuals' responses to societal pressures and goals into five distinct adaptation strategies: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Each of these options represents a way that people adapt to the expectations of society based on their means to achieve culturally approved goals.

Conformity is the most common adaptation, where individuals accept both the cultural goals and the legitimate means to achieve them. Ritualism involves individuals who abandon the goals but continue to adhere to the accepted means, often due to a sense of duty or social expectation. Retreatism describes those who reject both societal goals and the means of achieving them, withdrawing from the societal structure altogether.

Desperation, however, is not recognized as one of these strategies within Merton's framework. It does not pertain to how individuals relate to established societal goals or the means available to reach them, making it the option that does not fit within the theory. Understanding these adaptations is crucial for analyzing how various individuals or groups respond to the societal pressures that might lead to criminal behavior or deviance.