NCJ Number
137411
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1992) Pages: 178-199
Date Published
1992
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study presents an integrated theoretical model of illegal behavior that incorporates elements of strain, control, and learning theory and adds to previous analyses of age, period, and cohort effects.
Abstract
The data for this study were taken from the National Youth Survey and relate to delinquent peers, beliefs, and self-reported delinquency and drug use. Learning theory received the strongest support of the theories included in the integrated model. As predicted, delinquent peer bonding appeared to explain variations in illegal behavior with age; it also explained some of the variation attributed in previous studies to period and cohort effects. The effect of age appeared to be indirect, mediated by involvement with friends and the extent to which these friends were involved in illegal behaviors. Future research should try to replicate these results, develop better aggregate measures of conventional bonding, and extend the scope of this analysis to include strain theory variables other than cohort size. 7 tables, 5 notes, and 53 references