NCJ Number
151972
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1994) Pages: 411-427
Date Published
1994
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Using data from the Youth in Transition survey, this study applies the strain theory to juvenile delinquents to examine whether delinquency is related to the gap between monetary expectations and achievements.
Abstract
The study measured the gap between goals and achievements in both relative and absolute terms by conducting separate analyses focusing on lower-class respondents. The data provide only weak support for psychological strain theories, suggesting that monetary strain is not a significant source of delinquency. However, the data do reveal a nonlinear relationship between the desire for money and some delinquent types of behavior, specifically theft/vandalism and aggression. The magnitude of monetary goals was useful in distinguishing high-rate from low-rate offenders. The findings also suggest a qualitative difference between the goal of monetary success, which can be achieved through either legitimate or illegitimate means, and educational or occupational success, which may create strong pressure for conformity and therefore has a negative correlation with delinquency. 3 tables, 2 notes, and 40 references