Incarcerated Chinese Men: Their Life Experiences and Criminal Onset

• NCJ Number: 195219
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 42 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2002 Pages: 250-266
• Author(s): Mayling M. Chu
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study explored the factors that lead Chinese men to participate in criminal activities.

Abstract

This study combined social control theory and social learning theory to probe the factors contributing to the onset of criminal behavior in Chinese men. The author explored three main questions and tested the hypothesis that a lack of bonds to family and law-abiding peers, combined with negative associations and failure at school and work, led to participation of criminal behavior in Chinese men. The three questions under consideration were: (1) what was the effect of family background factors on propensity to engage in criminal behavior; (2) did social factors such as bonds to peers have an impact on the onset of criminal behavior; and (3) what were the similarities or differences among the factors impacting criminal initiation? The author used a self-report questionnaire administered to 1,011 male Chinese prison inmates in Taiwanese prisons. The questionnaire was designed to measure life events and patterns of criminal behavior. The author expected to find a particular sequence leading these Chinese men to criminal activity; it was expected that early experiences with criminal family members would lead to negative associations with delinquent peers, leading to failure in school and work, and eventually culminating in criminal behavior. The findings did not lend strong support to this hypothesis. Rather, the study suggests that the following factors contribute significantly to the onset of criminal behavior in Chinese men: running away from home in early childhood, weak bonds to law-abiding peers, negative associations with delinquent peers, and failure in school and work in young adulthood. Thus, the study shows that the absence of family and school bonds leads to association with delinquent peers which leads to failing at school and work. This sets the stage for the motivation and learning of deviant activities. The author notes that the study participants were mainly nonviolent offenders. Future research should focus on the violent subset of Chinese prisoners to gain a more rounded picture of Chinese male criminality. References