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Biosocial Development and Delinquent Involement

NCJ Number
209300
Journal
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 168-192
Author(s)
Kevin M. Beaver; John Paul Wright
Date Published
April 2005
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether the onset of puberty interacts with pre-existing temperamental differences to influence delinquent behavior as well as whether puberty influences peer group selection.
Abstract
Because the onset of puberty is accompanied by dramatic biological changes and numerous social transformation, it may directly influence delinquent behavior and also impact psychological and social variables related to delinquency. Data for this study were obtained from the National Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative, longitudinal study of adolescents in grades 7 through 12. The current study used nationally representative data from Wave I of the public-use version of the study (n=6,504), which consist of information collected during the in-school, in-home, and parent interviews. The instrument contained a number of self-reported indicators of puberty for both males and females. A measure of individual temperamental differences focused on attention deficit, low impulse control, negative interactional style, low self-efficacy, and bad temper. Exposure to delinquent peers was also measured. An 18-item Delinquency Scale was created from the Wave I data. The findings show that pubertal development is a robust predictor of delinquent behavior, especially for boys, and that puberty interacts with individual differences and with peer group affiliation. The authors advise that it is time for criminologists to re-evaluate their longstanding objections to the use of biological factors as a variable related to criminal behavior. Further advances in criminology can be made by examining the various ways that biological variables influence adolescent society as well as individual psychological and attitudinal variables that bear upon behavior. 3 tables, appended description of variables and scales, 7 notes, and 73 variables