NCJ Number
39472
Journal
Criminology Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1976) Pages: 347-368
Date Published
1976
Length
22 pages
Annotation
PATTERNS OF ADOLESCENT ROLE RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW THESE SUBSEQUENTLY AFFECT YOUTH'S INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY ARE CONSIDERED IN AN ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING YOUTH RELIANCE ON GROUPS SUPPORTING DELINQUENT VALUES.
Abstract
THE FIVE MAJOR PATTERNS OF ROLE RELATIONSHIPS CONSIDERED ARE KIN RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING THE EXTENDED FAMILY) COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBOR RELATIONSHIPS, SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS, WORK RELATIONSHIPS, AND PEER RELATIONSHIPS NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED BY THE OTHER FOUR. IT IS THEORIZED THAT WHEN ADOLESCENTS HAVE MEANINGFUL KIN, EDUCATIONAL, WORK, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME SOCIALIZED TO THE DOMINANT NORMS OF SOCIETY. INTEGRATION IS FACILITATED BY INTERACTION ACROSS ALL ROLE PATTERNS. AN ABSENCE OF THESE ROLE RELATIONSHIPS MEANS A GREATER PROBABILITY OF 'DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION' WITH YOUTH OR GREATER PRIORITY BEING TO DEVIANT PATTERNS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE YOUTH GROUP BECOMES THE ONLY MEANINGFUL ROLE RELATIONSHIP. THE PEER GROUP IS MORE LIKELY TO BE DEVIANT TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS LACK OTHER INTEGRATING RELATIONSHIPS, SINCE THEY CONTINUE TO EMPLOY THE SAME SUCCESS CRITERIA, WEALTH AND POWER, AS THE ADULT SOCIETY, WITHOUT SUFFICIENT MEANS TO ACHIEVE IT. STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS IN THE SOCIETY HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED ROLE PATTERN. THE PARADOX IS THAT AS SOCIETIES BECOME WEALTHIER, ADOLESCENTS MUST SPEND LONGER AND LONGER PERIODS IN ISOLATION OR IN DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FAMILY, SCHOOL, OR 'FORCED' EMPLOYMENT. IF YOUTH ARE ISOLATED FROM OTHER OTHER RELATIONSHIPS WHICH COULD FOSTER INTEGRATION AND COMMITMENT, THERE IS GREATER PROBABILITY OF YOUTH CRIME. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...ELW