NCJ Number
104007
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology M Methods and Therapy Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1986) Pages: 130-136
Date Published
1986
Length
7 pages
Annotation
An analysis of the patterns of social interactions in 91 institutionalized delinquents in Mississippi showed that neither prior living arrangements nor socioeconomic status affected social exchange patterns, but some differences existed between black and white delinquents.
Abstract
The subjects included 27 white youths and 64 black youths between ages 16 and 18. They provided the data in 1981. The analysis used the concept of human interactions defined by Foa and Foa. The Foas noted that in a social interaction an individual is either giving or taking one of six resources (love, status, services, information, goods, or money) to himself or herself or to someone else. To indicate their individual patterns of social interaction, the study's subjects reported their own feelings about 60 scenarios that combined differing elements of the Foas' framework. Results were unaffected by socioeconomic status or whether the respondent was living with both parents or with the mother only. Blacks and whites were similar in exchanges in which they were givers. However, black subjects had significantly higher taking scores in associaton with the resources of status, goods, and money. The racial differences disappeared when controlled for intelligence levels. Thus, intelligence and social exchange patterns appear to be jointly determined. Additional results and implications, recommendations for further research, data tables, and 25 references.