NCJ Number
58764
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 70 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1979) Pages: 188-193
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASSOCIATION WITH DELINQUENT FRIENDS AND INVOLVEMENT IN DELINQUENCY UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS OF PARENTAL SUPPORT IS ANALYZED IN A STUDY OF WHITE MALE ADOLESCENTS.
Abstract
DATA FOR THE ANALYSIS WERE GATHERED IN AN EARLIER PROJECT IN WHICH 78 YOUTHS AND THEIR FRIENDS ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR PARENTS AND ABOUT THE FREQUENCY, VARIETY, AND SERIOUSNESS OF THEIR OWN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE DATA SUPPORT THE PREDICTED PATTERN OF INTERACTION: DELINQUENT FRIENDS MADE A GREATER DIFFERENCE IN DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH WEAK FAMILY SUPPORT THAN FOR THOSE WITH STRONG FAMILY SUPPORT. THE DATA ALSO SHOW THAT FAMILY SUPPORT AND ASSOCIATION WITH DELINQUENT FRIENDS EXERT INDEPENDENT EFFECTS ON DELINQUENCY. THE PROBABILITY OF DELINQUENCY INCREASES WITH INCREASES IN THE DELINQUENCY OF COMPANIONS REGARDLESS OF THE STRENGTH OF PARENTAL SUPPORT. THE PROBABILITY OF DELINQUENCY DECREASES WITH INCREASES IN PARENTAL SUPPORT REGARDLESS OF THE DELINQUENCY OF FRIENDS. THE FORMER FINDING SUPPORTS THE NOTION OF A GROUP (GANG) PROCESS IN THE PRODUCTION OF DELINQUENT ACTIVITY, WHILE THE LATTER REFUTE THE 'PUSH-PULL' ARGUMENT THAT YOUTHS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE OPINIONS OF THEIR PEERS ARE NECESSARILY ESTRANGED FROM THEIR PARENTS. OVERALL, THE ANALYSIS PROVIDES IMPRESSIVE EVIDENCE IN FAVOR OF A CONTROL THEORY OF DELINQUENCY, SUPPORTING THE CONTENTION THAT ATTACHMENT TO PARENTS MINIMIZES THE IMPACT OF DELINQUENT ASSOCIATES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD EXPLICITLY INCORPORATE THE INTERACTION COMPONENT IN TESTS OF PARENTAL-PEER EFFECTS ON DELINQUENCY. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)