NCJ Number
76724
Journal
Journal of Comparative Family Studies Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (Autumn 1978) Pages: 327-334
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In a followup study of children under age 9 who had been reported for delinquent behavior in Israel, boys who had police files 5 years later and boys without additional records were interviewed regarding attitudes toward their families.
Abstract
Most juvenile delinquents in Israel come from families which emigrated from Asia and Africa after 1948 and which are characterized by a patriarchal structure, large size, and low income. These families experience many conflicts in Israel's urban industrialized society when the father's status declines because he cannot find a permanent job, the mother upgrades her position by becoming a well paid household worker, and children rebel against the authoritarian family organization. Conducted in 1971, this study located 63 boys with police files and 69 boys with no police records who had been identified in 1965 as predelinquent. The families of both groups were investigated, and participants were asked about their relations with their parents and siblings and emotions toward all family members. Most boys in both groups came from large families of Afro-Asian origin which were physically intact. Although few boys viewed their parents' relationships as quarrelsome, many reported arguments between themselves and their parents. The boys who had continued their delinquent behavior, however, reported more quarrels, particularly with their fathers. Both groups stated that they were close to their brothers and sisters, but the delinquents quarreled more with siblings than the control group. The overwhelming majority in both groups expressed love for their parents. Responses to questions on different gradations of love indicated that more boys tended to express more favorable attitudes toward their mothers than fathers. This difference was greater among the delinquents than the control boys. A significantly higher percentage of the delinquents reported running away from home which might be reflective of the state of their family relationships. The article is accompanied by 21 references.