APPLICATION OF COMPLIANCE THEORY TO THE STUDY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 19099
• Author(s): C W THOMAS; G A KREPS; R J CAGE
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 41 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-NI-03-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED TO THE MIDWEST SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO, MAY 9-12, 1975

Annotation

STUDY EVALUATING THE APPLICABILITY OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL, ETZIONI'S COMPLIANCE THEORY, TO THE ANALYSIS OF THAT ASPECT OF DELINQUENCY WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOL EXPERIENCES.

Abstract

THE STUDY IS BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF DATA OBTAINED FROM 923 HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES IN 1974. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IN ATTEMPTING TO ASSURE DESIRED LEVELS OF SOCIAL CONTROL OVER STUDENT POPULATIONS, EXERCISE SUFFICIENT DEGREES OF WHAT ETZIONI HAS TERMED COERCIVE POWER THAT THEY STIMULATE RELATIVELY HIGH LEVELS OF ALIENATIVE INVOLVEMENT AMONG THE STUDENTS OVER WHOM THEY HAVE CONTROL. THIS ALIENATIVE INVOLVEMENT IS SHOWN TO BE A PREDICTOR OF RESPONSES AMONG STUDENTS WHICH IMPLY REDUCED ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS WITH REGARD TO THE PROBABILITY OF ATTAINING THE FORMAL GOALS OF THE SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS BEING DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PROBABILITY OF INVOLVEMENT IN DELINQUENCY.