NCJ Number
47002
Journal
Revue de l'institut de sociologie Issue: 4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 439-453
Date Published
1976
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE YOUTH SUBCULTURE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN SWITZERLAND WAS EXAMINED THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES ADMINISTERED TO A SAMPLE OF 489 SWISS SCHOOL BOYS.
Abstract
THE TWO KEY ISSUES EXAMINED ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) THE EXTENT TO WHICH A JUVENILE SUBCULTURE CAN EXPLAIN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AND (2) WHAT ASPECTS OF THE JUVENILE SUBCULTURE CONTRIBUTE MOST TO DELINQUENCY. DELINQUENCY WAS DETERMINED BY MEANS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE JUVENILE SUBCULTURE WAS DETERMINED BY MEANS OF A SECOND QUESTIONNAIRE RELATED TO THREE VARIABLES: (1) ADOLESCENT ACTIVITIES, (2) IDENTIFICATION WITH PARENTS VERSUS IDENTIFICATION WITH PEERS, AND (3) ATTITUDES TOWARD SEX, ALCOHOL, AGGRESSION, SCHOOL, AND PARENTAL AUTHORITY. THE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO A SAMPLE GROUP COMPOSED OF 489 SWISS BOYS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 19 IN 4 SCHOOLS IN AND AROUND CHUR, SWITZERLAND. SAMPLE QUESTIONS ARE INCLUDED WITH RESPONSES PROVIDED IN TABLES. THE RESULTS DEMONSTRATE THAT DELINQUENT ACTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF SWISS YOUTHS IN THE JUVENILE SUBCULTURE. DELINQUENTS SCORED HIGHER THAN NONDELINQUENTS IN THE NUMBER OF DATES WITH GIRLS, IN PHYSICAL AGGRESSION, AND IN SPORTS. THEY WERE FOUND TO HAVE MORE LENIENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS SEX AND TOWARD CHEATING IN SCHOOL. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY DO NOT ALLOW ANY INFERENCE AS TO A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A JUVENILE SUBCULTURE AND DELINQUENCY. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE, HOWEVER, THAT THE CONCEPT OF A JUVENILE SUBCULTURE IS A USEFUL ONE IN THE STUDY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH. (INL)