NCJ Number
45520
Journal
Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 443-458
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
SELF-REPORT DATA FROM A SAMPLE OF 412 MALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A MIDWESTERN CITY ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VALUE ORIENTATIONS AND DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE SURVEY FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT SUBSCRIPTION TO 'CONVENTIONAL VALUE ORIENTATIONS' (DEFERRED GRATIFICATION HARD WORK, PRACTICALITY, PROGRESS, ETC.) INHIBITS INVOLVEMENT IN DELINQUENT ACTIVITIES, WHEREAS ADHERENCE TO 'SUBTERRANEAN VALUE ORIENTATIONS' (HEDONISM, THRILLS, EXCITEMENT, TROUBLE, TOUGHNESS, ETC.) INDUCES INVOLVEMENT IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THESE RELATIONSHIPS REMAIN SIGNIFICANT WHEN EFFECTS OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND LEVEL OF PERCEIVED LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES ARE HELD CONSTANT. THE FINDINGS ARE SAID TO CHALLENGE MANY OF THE ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH DELINQUENCY THEORY AND RESEARCH ARE BASED, PARTICULARLY THE CONCEPT OF CLASS-LINKED DIFFERENCES AMONG ADOLESCENTS OF DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATIONS OF DELINQUENCY INVOLVEMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON SIMILARITIES IN VALUE ORIENTATIONS AMONG DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM)