NCJ Number
43116
Journal
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF MODERN SOCIOLOGY Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUTUMN 1974) Pages: 165-175
Date Published
1974
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER PRESENTS THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE MIDLAND AREA PROJECT TO EXAMINE THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT OF DELINQUENTS IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, TO CONVENTIONAL AND DEVIANT ACTS.
Abstract
IN AN ATTEMPT TO TEST THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST DAVID MATZA'S HYPOTHESIS THAT DELINQUENTS ARE NOT COMMITTED TO EITHER DELINQUENT OR NONDELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, 225 'TEDDIES' (JUVENILE DELINQUENTS) FROM THE HEAVILY INDUSTRIALIZED WEST MIDLAND AREA OF ENGLAND WERE ASKED TO COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRES INDICATING THEIR DEGREE OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF 18 DELINQUENT AND 9 NONDELINQUENT ACTS. THE FINDING, PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM SHOWS THAT WHILE 30 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECTS DO NOT FAVOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, 48 PERCENT DISAPPROVE OF ROBBING OTHERS FOR MONEY. SIMILARLY, 31 PERCENT OF THOSE TESTED APPROVED OF BEING NEIGHBORLY, BUT ONLY 24 PERCENT WERE IN FAVOR OF FIGHTING WITH WEAPONS. THE PROPORTION OF 'TEDDIES' APPROVING OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR WAS INVARIABLY LOW. THE AUTHOR CAUTIONS THAT THE FINDINGS SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH SOME RESERVATIONS DUE TO THE POSSIBLE DISTORTION IN RESPONSE WHICH THE 'SELF-REPORT' METHOD OF RESEARCH ENTAILS. STATISTICAL EVIDENCE TENDED TO SUPPORT MATZA'S THESIS, AND NEW INSIGHT WAS GAINED FOR A PROGRAM AIMED AT ENGAGING THE DELINQUENT IN NONDELINQUENT ACTION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.