SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF DETERRENCE DEVELOPMENT AND TEST OF A CAUSAL MODEL

• NCJ Number: 53475
• Author(s): D S ALCORN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 182 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THE EFFECTS OF ATTACHMENT TO PARENTS AND TO SCHOOL, DELINQUENT PEER ASSOCIATIONS, DELINQUENT VALUES, AND PERCEIVED CERTAINTY AND SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT ON DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR ARE EXPLORED.

Abstract

THE STUDY TESTS SIX THEORETICAL CONSTRUCTS DERIVED FROM SOCIAL CONTROL AND SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY AND FROM DETERRENCE DOCTRINE: THAT ATTACHMENT TO PARENTS AND ATTACHMENT TO SCHOOL HAVE STRONG INVERSE EFFECTS ON DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT (SOCIAL CONTROL); THAT DELINQUENT PEER ASSOCIATIONS AND DELINQENT VALUES HAVE STRONG POSITIVE EFFECTS ON DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR (SOCIAL LEARNING); AND THAT PERCEIVED CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT HAS A STRONG INVERSE EFFECT AND PERCEIVED SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT A MODERATE INVERSE EFFECT ON EXTENT OF DELINQUENT ACTIVITY (DETERRENCE). PATH ANALYSIS IS USED TO EXPLORE SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY DATA FROM 734 HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE STUDENTS IN SEATTLE, WASH., FOR CAUSAL LINKS BETWEEN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AND THE SIX INDEPENDENT VARIABLES. THE ANALYSIS PROVIDES STRONGEST SUPPORT FOR THE SOCIAL LEARNING CONSTRUCTS, ONLY MODERATE AND INCONSISTENT SUPPORT FOR THE SOCIAL CONTROL CONSTRUCTS, AND VIRTUALLY NO SUPPORT FOR THE DETERRENCE CONSTRUCTS. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAUSAL MODELS FOR EXAMINING THE DETERRENCE DOCTRINE ARE OFFERED. A LITERATURE REVIEW, DETAILS OF THE ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS, SUPPORTING DATA, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)