ROOTS OF DELINQUENCY - INFANCY, ADOLESCENCE AND CRIME

• NCJ Number: 58223
• Author(s): M WADSWORTH
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 159 pages
• Corporate Author: Martin Robertson and Co Ltd
• Sale Source: Barnes and Noble College Bookstore
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, ITS PREDICTION, AND ITS LINK TO SOCIAL ATTITUDES ARE EXAMINED IN A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF ENGLISH YOUTHS ON WHOM DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM THEIR BIRTH TO AGE 21.

Abstract

INFORMATION ON THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, FAMILY LIFE, AND WORK WAS REGULARLY COLLECTED FROM THE 5,362 SUBJECTS, MALES AND FEMALES, IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH A SERIES OF ISSUES CONCERNING DELINQUENCY. THESE INCLUDED THE FACTORS THAT DESIGNATE HIGH RISK; SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURES IN YOUTH RESPONSIBLE FOR ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN LATER LIFE; THE EMOTIONAL DISORDER IN CHILDHOOD THAT IS NECESSARILY LINKED WITH LATER DELINQUENCY; AND THE VALUE OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF DATA ABOUT DELINQUENCY, FROM SELF-REPORT TO OFFICIAL STUDIES, ON PREDICTING DELINQUENCY. FOR THE STUDY, RESEARCHERS USED A SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY OF CRIME (SAC) SCALE, HYPOTHESIZING SCORES WOULD BE LEAST REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE COMMITTING A PARTICULAR OFFENSE. THE MOST STRIKING FINDING CONCERNED FAMILY LIFE, WHERE DISRUPTION OF A PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP IN EARLY LIFE, THROUGH PARENTAL DEATH, DIVORCE, OR SEPARATION, WAS ASSOCIATED HIGHLY WITH LATER DELINQUENCY. LARGE FAMILY SIZE WAS ALSO RELATED TO NEGATIVE SAC SCORES, WHILE THE OCCURRENCE OF THE MOTHER BEING A WORKING WOMAN OR A HOUSEWIFE DID NOT. SCHOOL LIFE WAS A LESS FRUITFUL SOURCE OF DELINQUENCY ASSOCIATION AND MEASURES OF ABILITY OR ACHIEVEMENT DID NOT CORRELATE WITH LATER DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. YET TEACHERS' ASSESSMENTS OF BOYS DID CORRELATE WITH DELINQUENCY AND THOSE BOYS ASSESSED AS AVERAGE, POOR, OR LAZY TENDED TO SHOW LATER PROBLEM BEHAVIOR. THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THOSE MALE DELINQUENTS WITH THE MOST SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE SAC SCORES WOULD BE LEAST WELL DISCRIMINATED FROM NONDELINQUENTS AND THOSE WITH THE LEAST ACCEPTABLE SCORES BEST DISCRIMINATED WAS SUPPORTED. OTHER FINDINGS ARE RELATED, WITH THE GENERAL CONCLUSION BEING THAT DELINQUENCY IS NOT HOMOGENEOUS AND THAT TREATING IT AS SUCH IS FUTILE. STUDY DATA, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)