OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE AND PERCEPTION OF ATTAINMENT BLOCKAGE - A STUDY OF LOWER-CLASS DELINQUENT AND NON-DELINQUENT BLACK MALES

• NCJ Number: 49842
• Journal: Adolescence Volume: 19 Issue: 34 Dated: (SUMMER 1974) Pages: 289-298
• Author(s): J S PICOU; A G COSBY; J W LEMKE; H T AZUMA
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Libra Publishers, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A VERSION OF THIS PAPER WAS READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LOUISIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, LAKE CHARLES (LA), APRIL 1970

Annotation

THE OCCUPATIONAL CHOICES OF SOUTHERN BLACK DELINQUENT AND NONDELINQUENT MALE NINTH GRADERS ARE COMPARED, AND THE YOUTHS' PERCEPTIONS OF POSSIBLE OBSTACLES TO THEIR ENGAGING IN THEIR CHOSEN OCCUPATIONS ARE EXPLORED.

Abstract

THE STUDY SUBJECTS INCLUDED 73 STUDENTS INCARCERATED AT A LARGE, ALL-BLACK JUVENILE INSTITUTION IN LOUISIANA, AND 68 JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM A LARGE URBAN AREA. THE HIGH-LEVEL OCCUPATIONAL ASPIRATIONS OF BOTH GROUPS OF RESPONDENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE FINDINGS OF OTHER STUDIES AND PROBABLY REFLECT THE AMERICAN CULTURAL EMPHASIS ON OCCUPATIONAL SUCCESS. THERE WERE ONLY SLIGHT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OCCUPATIONAL ASPIRATIONS (THE KIND OF WORK MOST DESIRED) AND OCCUPATIONAL PLANS (THE KIND OF WORK REALLY EXPECTED). SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGES OF BOTH GROUPS PLANNED ON ENTERING 'GLAMOUR' OCCUPATIONS (PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS, ACTING, MUSIC) AND PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS. SUCH HIGH-STATUS OCCUPATIONAL EXPECTATIONS COULD PROVE A SOURCE OF PERSONAL FRUSTRATION AND CONFLICT. BOTH GROUPS PERCEIVED FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR JOB TRAINING AS THE FACTOR MOST LIKELY TO IMPEDE THEIR OCCUPATIONAL PLANS. OVERALL, THE OCCUPATIONAL PROJECTIONS OF THE DELINQUENT YOUTHS DID NOT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THOSE OF THE NONDELINQUENT YOUTHS. HOWEVER, SLIGHTLY MORE DELINQUENTS HAD HIGH-LEVEL OCCUPATIONAL EXPECTATIONS, AND LARGER NUMBERS OF DELINQUENTS CONSISTENTLY REPORTED 'RACE' AND 'NOT BEING SMART ENOUGH' AS FACTORS THAT WOULD LIMIT THEIR CHANCES FOR OCCUPATIONAL SUCCESS. THESE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE DELINQUENT YOUTHS MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING NEGATIVE SELF-CONCEPTS AND A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL CAPABILITIES. THE DELINQUENTS WERE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO CITE A LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AN INDICATION THAT THE YOUTHS MAY BE AWARE OF THE 'STIGMA OF DEVIANCY' THEY CARRY IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)