THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SCHOOL CRIME - MODEL FOR SYNTHESIS (FROM THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON POVERTY AND SCHOOL CRIME - V 2, 1978 - SEE NCJ-59837)

• NCJ Number: 59839
• Author(s): S A CERNKOVICH; R S DENISOFF
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 32 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STRUCTURAL THEORY AND CONTROL THEORY ARE INTEGRATED TO STUDY JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND SCHOOL CRIME; IT IS SUGGESTED THAT VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF YOUTH ARE MAJOR DETERMINANTS OF DELINQUENCY INVOLVEMENT.

Abstract

STRUCTURAL THEORY ATTRIBUTES AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF SOCIETY, PARTICULARLY THE CLASS STRUCTURE, IN CAUSAL PROCESSES LEADING TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. MODELS BASED ON THIS THEORY EMPHASIZE VARIOUS STRUCTURAL PRESSURES THAT LEAD TO DELINQUENCY AS AN ADAPTATION OR SOLUTION TO CERTAIN PROBLEMS OF ADJUSTMENT ARISING FROM THESE PRESSURES. IT IS WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING THAT MANY FRUSTRATIONS AND DEPRIVATIONS EVENUTALLY LEADING TO DELINQUENCY ARE CONCEIVED AND NOURISHED. CONTROL THEORY MAINTAINS THAT DELINQUENCY IS THE RESULT OF WEAKENED OR BROKEN TIES TO CONVENTIONAL SOCIETY. INVOLVEMENT IN AND COMMITMENT TO CONVENTIONAL VALUES, NORMS, AND BEHAVIOR PATTERNS ARE SEEN AS INHIBITING DELINQUENCY. THE PROPOSED MODEL, WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL AND ILLUSTRATED, PRIMARILY CONCERNS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VALUE ORIENTATIONS AND DELINQUENCY AS THE KEY LINK BETWEEN STRUCTURAL AND CONTROL THEORIES. VALUE ORIENTATIONS ARE STANDARDS OF DESIRABILITY AND CRITERIA FOR PREFERENCE AND SELECTION AMONG ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION. THEY OPERATE TO DIRECT, CHANNEL, AND RATIONALIZE BEHAVIOR. PARTICULAR VALUE ORIENTATIONS CAN EITHER GIVE RISE TO DELINQUENCY AS AN APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORAL OPTION OR SIGNIFICANTLY INHIBIT NONCONFORMING CONDUCT. THUS, ANY VIABLE TREATMENT OR CONTROL STRATEGY MUST BE DIRECTED AT VALUE ORIENTATIONS, WITH THE INTENT OF DEVELOPING AMONG INDIVIDUALS A STAKE IN CONFORMITY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS MADE IN THE MODEL IS THAT, TO THE EXTENT ADOLESCENTS DEVELOP A STAKE IN CONFORMITY, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO ENGAGE DELINQUENCY TO ANY SIGNIFICANT DEGREE. IT IS WHEN COMMITMENT TO CONFORMITY IS WEAKENED THAT DELINQUENCY BECOMES MORE LIKELY. SCHOOLS ARE IN A PIVOTAL POSITION OF BEING ABLE TO AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S STAKE IN CONFORMITY. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)