NCJ Number
146757
Journal
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1982) Pages: 41-55
Date Published
1982
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study provides support for the hypothesis that integration into the traditional Mexican American culture results in healthier psychological adjustment and lower levels of delinquency.
Abstract
The authors tested the hypothesis that traditional Mexican American culture results in more healthy psychological adjustment and lower levels of delinquency in those that are integrated with this culture because it is based on positive values of upward mobility and achievement. They also tested predictions made by Merton in his theory of social structure and anomie. The authors assumed that first generation Mexican Americans would be the most culturally integrated and that subsequent generations would move further away from the values of their culture. The discrepancy between educational aspirations and expectations was used to measure psychological adjustment. Self-reports of the study subjects were used to identify delinquency. The study subjects were a group of 81 male high school students equally divided between first, second, and third generation Mexican Americans. All of the subjects were found to have similar educational aspirations. However, lower expectations, a higher rate of delinquency and greater disjunction between aspirations and expectations were found in the third generation. There was a significant relationship between disjunction and delinquency for third generation subjects. Discussion of the study results focused on the psychological advantages of integration with the traditional Mexican American culture. 1 table