According to Merton's Strain Theory, which of the following best exemplifies the response of retreatism, while also highlighting the concept of anomie within social structures?

Merton's Strain Theory explains how society sets goals and the acceptable ways to achieve them. Retreatism is a response where individuals reject both the goals and the means of achieving them, often leading to withdrawal from society. For example, a person might drop out of school and stop working because they feel disconnected from societal expectations, reflecting a sense of anomie, or normlessness. This feeling arises when people believe they cannot succeed through traditional paths, leading them to abandon those goals entirely. In this way, retreatism highlights how some individuals respond to the pressures of social structures by choosing to disengage instead of conforming or rebel.