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Delinquency as a Symptom of Adolescents' Orientation Toward Status and Success

NCJ Number
136669
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: 119-138
Author(s)
K Hurrelmann; U Engel
Date Published
1992
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Data from a 1988 survey of 1,717 West German adolescents between ages 12 and 16 indicated that delinquency is associated with the extent of adolescents' conformity to society's standards of prestige and success.
Abstract
Information was gathered by means of questionnaires completed by 7th and 9th grade students in all school types in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The results revealed a relationship between delinquency and inability to succeed at school, on the one hand, and failure to achieve full recognition of status and prestige in the peer group, on the other. Results indicated that difficulties related to integration into the network of academic performance, as well as difficulties connected with recognition within the peer group, are associated with delinquency. Findings suggested the need for efforts to reduce the experience of academic failure among students, increase social bonding, and improve students' self concepts. Tables, figure, and 33 references