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YOUTH SOCIALIZATION, SOCIAL CONTROL, DEVIANCE

NCJ Number
68048
Journal
ANNALES DE VAUCRESSON Dated: SPECIAL NUMBER (JULY 1977) Pages: 73-88
Author(s)
N MALHERBE
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS ANALYZED IN TERMS OF THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS, SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY, AND SOCIETAL ATTITUDES TOWARD DEVIANCY.
Abstract
ACCORDING TO RECENT SOCIOLOGICAL OPINION, DEVIANCY DOES NOT EXIST IN ITSELF BUT RESULTS FROM SOCIETY'S DEFINITION. THEREFORE, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY MUST BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO SOCIETY'S INTERPRETATION. FOR EXAMPLE, JUVENILES ARE FREQUENTLY CONSIDERED A PROBLEM GROUP BY THE ADULT WORLD BECAUSE THEY FAIL TO MEET ADULT EXPECTATIONS. THE JUVENILE DELINQUENT IS HENCE CONSIDERED DEVIANT BECAUSE OF HIS OFFENSE AND HIS YOUTH. ALSO, THE PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION BY WHICH CHILDREN INTERNALIZE THE VALUES AND CUSTOMS OF THEIR SOCIETY HAS BEEN PROLONGED IN WESTERN NATIONS DUE TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF MODERN SOCIETY. THIS CONTINUATION OF LEGAL IMMATURITY BEYOND THE AGE OF BIOLOGICAL MATURITY LEADS TO FRICTION BETWEEN JUVENILES AND ADULTS AND ENCOURAGES REACTIONS AGAINST ADULT LEGAL NORMS. THE INCREASED TRANSFERENCE OF SOCIAL CONTROL FROM THE PARENTS TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (COURTS, SOCIAL AGENCIES) EXPOSES JUVENILES TO THE SAME KIND OF LABELING MECHANISMS WHICH RENDER THE REHABILITATION OF ADULT OFFENDERS DIFFICULT. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY SHOULD NOT BE TERMED DEVIANCY IN A STRICT SENSE BUT SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE LARGER FRAMEWORK OF SOCIAL AUTHORITY AND ORDER STRUCTURES. A LIST OF 11 NOTES IS INCLUDED. --IN FRENCH.