NCJ Number
76066
Journal
Social Problems Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: (October 1978) Pages: 71-85
Date Published
1977
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The results are reported of a study investigating self-esteem in black and white inmates at a New Jersey correctional facility for youthful offenders.
Abstract
Data were collected using a self-esteem questionnaire from 122 black and 103 white inmates at the facility. The inmates were asked to rate the payoffs and costs of holding a steady job and of having a criminal career and to estimate their own potential for such payoffs. They also responded to 10 self-esteem questions. Levels of self-esteem were significantly higher for blacks than for whites. Age, education, and father's (or stepfather's), education were found to be significantly related to self-esteem for both groups. Self-esteem was significantly related to father's occupation for white participants, but not for black ones. Criminal success was more important to blacks, while noncriminal success was more important to whites. For black respondents, there was a significant correlation between perceived probability of success in criminal activities and self-esteem; for white respondents, there was a strong relationship between self-esteem and perceived probability of success in a noncriminal career. There were no differences in goals between the two groups. There were also no differences in positive self-esteem between the groups, although blacks had higher negative self-esteem than whites. The data on white participants were compatible with an instrumental model of self-esteem, while that on black participants fit an additive model. Tabular data and 28 references are provided.