NCJ Number
69141
Journal
Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1980) Pages: 86-93
Date Published
1980
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE APPARENT REFUTATION BY SELF-REPORT STUDIES OF SOCIAL CLASS-RELATED THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS CRITICALLY REVIEWED. A MORE EXPLICIT 'UNDERCLASS/EARNING CLASS' MODEL OF STRATIFICATION IS SUGGESTED.
Abstract
MORE ACCURATE TESTS OF SOCIAL CLASS DELINQUENCY THEORIES CAN BE MADE IF THE FATHER'S SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS (SES) AS JUDGED BY HIS OCCUPATION IS REPLACED BY A MORE ACCURATE MEASURE OF SES. THE UNDERCLASS (UC) CONCEPT MEASURES CRITERIA SUCH AS MARGINAL EMPLOYMENT OR UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY LEVEL INCOME, AND RECEIPT OF WELFARE BENEFITS; EARNING CLASS (EC) STATUS LABELS THOSE WHO DO NOT FIT IN THE UC CATEGORY. THIS STUDY EXAMINED ANONYMOUS QUESTIONNAIRES OBTAINED FROM 734 HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES IN 3 SAMPLE HIGH SCHOOLS. ALTHOUGH THE SCHOOLS WERE SELECTED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF UC STUDENTS, ONLY 8 PERCENT WERE EVENTUALLY CLASSIFIED AS UC. IN ADDITION TO TESTING FOR UC/EC FACTORS A TRADITIONAL GAUGE OF THE FATHER'S OCCUPATION WAS OBTAINED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF ANY CLASS EFFECT FOUND WITH UC/EC MEASURE COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO USING DIFFERENT MEASURES. THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE, SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, INCLUDED CHARGEABLE OFFENSES SUCH AS THEFT, VANDALISM AND ASSAULT. THE DATA PROVIDED NO FIRM EVIDENCE THAT SOCIAL CLASS, NO MATTER HOW IT IS MEASURED, IS A SALIENT FACTOR IN GENERATING DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT. UC/EC WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE RELATED TO SERIOUSNESS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. CORRELATIONS BETWEEN SES OF FATHER'S OCCUPATION AND THOSE SAME MEASURES OF DELINQUENCY WERE NON-EXISTENT. ALTHOUGH FURTHER TESTS ENCOMPASSING SLUM AREAS WITH LARGER UC POPULATIONS ARE NEEDED TO MORE FULLY TEST THE UC/EC MODE, THERE IS ONLY A MODERATE IMPLICATION THAT IMPROVED METHODOLOGY WILL REVEAL THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE UC LEADS TO GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN CERTAIN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED.