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ON THE ETIOLOGY OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR

NCJ Number
55881
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 28-33
Author(s)
J F SHORT
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AN EFFORT TO INTEGRATE STRAIN, SOCIAL CONTROL, AND SOCIAL LEARNING PERSPECTIVES INTO A SINGLE, COMPREHENSIVE MODEL OF THE ETIOLOGY OF DELINQUENCY (SEE NCJ-55880) IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE PROPOSED INTEGRATED MODEL TAKES INTO ACCOUNT TWO PATHS LEADING TO DELINQUENCY. ONE PATH CONSISTS OF WEAK SOCIETAL BONDS AND EXPOSURE AND COMMITMENT TO DELINQUENT GROUPS. THE OTHER CONSISTS OF STRONG BONDS, CONDITIONS AND EXPERIENCES THAT WEAKEN THOSE BONDS, AND EXPOSURE AND COMMITMENT TO DELINQUENT GROUPS. DEALING WITH THE ETIOLOGICAL PROCESS AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, THE MODEL LEAVES UNANSWERED LONGSTANDING QUESTIONS AT THE MACRO- AND MICROSOCIOLOGICAL LEVELS (E.G., THE PROPERTIES OF SOCIAL SYSTEMS AND CULTURES THAT CAUSE VARIANCE IN RATES AND TYPES OF DELINQUENCY, AND THE NATURE OF INTERACTIVE PROCESSES BETWEEN JUVENILES AND POLICE, BETWEEN RIVAL GANGS, AND AMONG GANG MEMBERS). THUS THE PROPOSED MODEL IS INFORMED BY, BUT DOES NOT ACTUALLY INTEGRATE, THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES OTHER THAN THOSE AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. PROBLEMS WITH THE PROPOSED MODEL HAVE TO DO WITH ITS TENDENCY TO POLARIZE (DELINQUENT VERSUS CONVENTIONAL BEHAVIOR, STRONG VERSUS WEAK BONDS); ITS FAILURE TO CONSIDER ASPECTS OF GANG BEHAVIOR (E.G., DECISIONMAKING PROCESSESS, REACTIONS TO STATUS THREATS) OTHER THAN NORMATIVE CONSTRAINTS AND MOTIVATIONS; ITS OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF THE BONDING CONCEPT; AND ITS PREMATURE READINESS TO DOWNPLAY ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL CLASS AND DELINQUENCY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)

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