TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED MODEL OF DELINQUENCY CAUSATION - AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

• NCJ Number: 60389
• Journal: Sociology and Social Research Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 316-327
• Author(s): M G AULTMAN; C F WELLFORD
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Southern California
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MODIFIED VERSION OF A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE 1977 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY

Annotation

A MODEL OF DELINQUENCY CAUSATION IS TESTED USING A SAMPLE OF JUVENILES IN TALLAHASSEE, FLA., THAT INCLUDES ANOMIE THEORY, LABELING THEORY, A VARIATION OF CONTROL THEORY, ALIENATION, AND SELF-ESTEEM.

Abstract

THEORIES ABOUT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THREE MAJOR VARIABLES: ANOMIE, LABELING, AND CONTROL. IMPLICIT IN THEORETICAL FORMULATIONS OF ANOMIE AND LABELING ARE VARIABLES RELATED TO ALIENATION AND SELF-CONCEPT. A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON ALL THESE THEORIES SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHAT THEORETICAL VARIABLES ACCURATELY REFLECT PROCESSES INVOLVED IN DELINQUENCY CAUSATION. WHILE DELINQUENCY IS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON THAT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MUCH THEORETICAL SPECULATION AND EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION, THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL CONFUSION IN THE AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OVER WHAT THEORETICAL FORMULATIONS APPEAR TO BE MOST ACCEPTABLE IN EXPLAINING VARIATIONS IN DELINQUENCY. THE MODEL OF DELINQUENCY CAUSATION INDICATES THAT DELINQUENCY IS THE RESULT OF FIVE PROCESSES: (1) NEGATIVE LABELING FROM OTHERS, (2) REDUCED ACCESS TO DESIRABLE SOCIAL ROLES, (3) SOCIAL ALIENATION, (4) LACK OF CONTROL FROM OTHERS, AND (5) LOWERED SELF-ESTEEM. THE MODEL WAS TESTED USING A SAMPLE OF JUVENILES IN TALLAHASSEE, FLA., DRAWN RANDOMLY FROM JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL POPULATIONS. APPROXIMATELY 1,500 STUDENTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE 1975 SURVEY. VARIABLES OPERATIONALIZED IN TESTING THE MODEL WERE ANOMIE, SOCIAL ALIENATION, NEGATIVE LABELING, NORMATIVE PRESSURES, SELF-ESTEEM, PARENTAL REJECTION, AND SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY. PATH ANALYSIS OF DATA REVEALED THE IMPORTANCE OF LABELING AND CONTROL VARIABLES IN YOUTH RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PARENTS AND PEERS. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTROL IN EXPLAINING DELINQUENCY WAS APPARENT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ANOMIE THEORY MAY BE MORE SUITED FOR EXPLAINING DELINQUENCY CAUSATION AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ANALYSIS AND THAT, AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THEORIES STRESSING INTERPERSONAL-SITUATIONAL FACTORS. FIGURES, NOTES, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)