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DELINQUENCY AND THE AGE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY

NCJ Number
44678
Journal
Contemporary Crises Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1977) Pages: 189-223
Author(s)
D F GREENBERG
Date Published
1977
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THIS THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE AGE DISTRIBUTION OF CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT SHOWS THE DISPROPORTIONATE INVOLVEMENT OF JUVENILES TO BE A CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR HISTORICALLY CHANGING POSITION IN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES.
Abstract
MOST FORMS OF DELINQUENCY CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY THE LEADING THEORY WHICH RELATES DELINQUENCY TO THE ANTICIPATION BY JUVENILES OF FAILURE TO ACHIEVE OCCUPATIONAL SUCCESS GOALS AS ADULTS. DELINQUENCY CAN, HOWEVER, BE A RESPONSE TO A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF GOALS OTHER THAN OCCUPATIONAL ONES, SUCH AS POPULARITY AND POSSESSIONS. PEER GROUP PRESSURE IS A STRONG FORCE FOR ADOLESCENTS. A LONG-TERM TREND TOWARD INCREASED AGE SEGREGATION CREATED BY CHANGING PATTERNS OF WORK AND EDUCATION HAS INCREASED THE VULNERABILITY OF TEENAGERS TO THE EXPECTATIONS AND EVALUATIONS OF THEIR PEERS. THE PERSISTENT DECLINE IN TEENAGE EMPLOYMENT HAS PROGRESSIVELY ELIMINATED THE ALTERNATIVE OF JOBS TO FINANCE TEEN ACTIVITIES, SO OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS MUST BE SOUGHT TO 'KEEP UP WITH THE CROWD'. ADOLESCENT THEFT OCCURS AS A RESPONSE TO THE DISJUNCTION BETWEEN THE DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES WITH PEERS AND THE ABSENCE OF LEGITIMATE SOURCES OF FUNDS NEEDED TO FINANCE THIS PARTICIPATION. INVOLVEMENT IN THEFT FALLS OFF RAPIDLY WITH AGE AS ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF SELF-ESTEEM ARE PROVIDED AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACQUIRING MONEY EXPAND. THE INCREASING RELAXATION OF CONTROLS WITHIN THE FAMILY CONFLICT WITH CONTINUED AUTHORITARIAN METHODS IN THE SCHOOLS. STUDENTS WHO REAP NO PRESENT REWARDS OR EXPECT ONLY LIMITED OCCUPATIONAL REWARDS IN RETURN FOR SUBORDINATING THEMSELVES TO SCHOOL DISCIPLINE MAY PARTICIPATE IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AS VANDALISM, JOYRIDING, AND TRUANCY TO PROVIDE THE SELF-EXPRESSION WHICH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FAILS TO REWARD. LEAVING SCHOOL (THROUGH GRADUATION OR DROPPING OUT) ELIMINATES MAJOR SOURCES OF MOTIVATION TOWARD DELINQUENCY, AS THE STUDENTS ENTER A WORLD WHICH DOES NOT RESTRICT THEIR AUTONOMY AND ASSAULT THEIR DIGNITY IN THE WAY THAT SCHOOL DOES. IT IS GENERALIZED THAT ANY SOCIETY THAT EXCLUDES JUVENILES FROM THE WORLD OF ADULT WORK FOR LONG PERIODS AND IMPOSES MANDATORY ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOLS ORGANIZED IN SUCH A WAY WILL HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DELINQUENCY.