NCJ Number
147183
Date Published
1966
Length
117 pages
Annotation
This study tested the theory, put forth by Walter Miller, that families dominated by females are more likely to produce boys who seek masculine status by joining a gang and who will engage in more aggressive, masculine oriented delinquent behavior.
Abstract
A pool of 580 boys from Chicago were surveyed about the structure of their families, maternal dominance, their order of birth, and their bond with their fathers or male guardians and with their mothers or female guardians. Other variables considered were the age, race, social class, and whether the respondent was a member of a gang. These variables were correlated against several measures of delinquent behavior. Five of these were behavioral measures including: 1) physical aggressive behavior, 2) participation in athletic aggressive behavior, 3) stable sex maturity, 4) behavior that is a indicator of nonaggression, and 5) authority protest. Police records were also used as a measure of delinquency. Miller's proposition was only partially supported by the findings. While more gang than non-gang boys came from female-based families, the largest number of gang members came from families in which both parents shared responsibility. Gang membership or nonmembership had little relationship to police records. The relationship between the family structure and the five behavioral measures observed was relatively weak. Additional variables are needed to explain gang boy behavior. Some other possibilities outside of those studied were offered. 23 tables