NCJ Number
205789
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2004 Pages: 244-260
Date Published
April 2004
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the relations between adolescent attitudes toward delinquent behavior and actual delinquent behavior.
Abstract
The central issue in this study was whether the longitudinal relations between attitudes and behavior were different for young people who were just starting delinquent behavior then for those who were experienced in delinquency. Data were analyzed from 550 adolescents who were interviewed 3 times during a 6-year period. Structure models were used to test the reciprocal relations between attitudes and delinquent behavior. Most of the young people responded that during the past year they had committed no offenses or only one offense. Moreover, most of them held a rejecting and negative attitude toward delinquent behavior. Only a small number of respondents held a decidedly positive or supportive attitude toward delinquent behavior. The separate data for the groups of starting delinquents and experienced delinquents indicated that youth who had committed a criminal offense in early adolescence held a less negative attitude toward youth crime and still held it 3 and even 6 years later. This study indicated that in research on attitude-behavior relations, a distinction should be made according to the previous experiences and specific behaviors of the individuals themselves. Longitudinal relations between attitudes and delinquent behavior were found to be different for starting delinquents and for experienced delinquents. Before delinquent behavior has actually started, the attitude toward this behavior was found to be a strong predictor, whereas when delinquent acts had already been committed, attitudes were found to have no influence on whether delinquent behavior continued or stopped. In summary, this study illustrates that it is important in the examination of effects between attitudes and delinquency, to distinguish between those who are not involved in delinquency and those who are involved. These findings show that for those who are not involved in delinquent activities in early adolescence, attitudes affect their future engagement in delinquent activities whereas for those who are already involved, their behaviors more strongly affect their attitudes. 1 table, 2 figures, 2 notes, and 25 references