opportunity structure
a matrix that relates personal characteristics (e.g., age, disability, race, gender, education, financial status) to the cultural and social opportunities and options that are available to an individual throughout his or her life. According to some psychologists, barred or restricted access to legitimate opportunities for success, due to economic or social disadvantage, leads some individuals to seek success by illegitimate means (an “illegitimate opportunity structure”), such as delinquency or other criminal activity. Also called opportunity matrix.