NCJ Number
87539
Journal
Journal of Genetic Psychology Volume: 140 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1982) Pages: 47-58
Date Published
1982
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examines the factorial composition of adolescents' attitudes towards law and crime.
Abstract
A questionnaire was administered to 380 male and female high school students of mixed socioeconomic status and ethnic background. Factor analysis of responses to 36 items concerning law and crime-related issues yielded 12 factors, of which 7 were interpreted. The interpreted factors (and the number of items composing each) included retributive responses to criminals (9 items), self-attribution of social-legal responsibility (6 items), belief in effective versus ineffective law enforcement (4 items), and law abidance (3 items). Other interpreted factors were government by authority versus government by law, shared responsibility for law and order and adverse, exploitative orientation to the law. These factors were judged to reflect coherent relationships among adolescents' views of law and crime. Footnotes, study data, and 27 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)