SOCIAL PROCESSES IN THE ACT OF VANDALISM (FROM CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, A READER, 1970 BY CARL A BERSANI SEE NCJ-06248)

• NCJ Number: 10206
• Author(s): A L WADE
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Macmillan
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS - A TYPOLOGY, BY CLINARD & QUINNEY, HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON, 1967

Annotation

AN ANALYSIS OF JUVENILE VANDALISM VIEWED AS A SOCIAL ACT AND EMPHASIZING THE DEFINITIONS HELD BY THE ACTOR OF HIMSELF AND OF THE BEHAVIORAL ACT.

Abstract

VANDALISM IS REVEALED TO BE SPONTANEOUS BEHAVIOR AND THE OUTGROWTH OF THE SOCIAL SITUATIONS IN WHICH GROUP INTERACTION TAKES PLACE. INTERACTIVE RESPONSES BUILD UPON THE PRECEDING ONES UNTIL A FOCUS DEVELOPS, AND A SOLIDARY RELATIONSHIP RESULTS AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS. THE ACT OF VANDALISM FUNCTIONS AS A MEANS OF ENSURING GROUP SOLIDARITY. CONFORMITY TO THE PEER GROUP OCCURS BECAUSE INVOLVEMENT TENDS TO SATISFY THE ADOLESCENT'S NEED DISPOSITIONS FOR STATUS, RECOGNITION, AND RESPONSE. IDENTIFICATION WITH SOCIETAL PROPERTY NORMS BECOMES SUBORDINATE TO THE DEMANDS OF THE PEER GROUP. THE ADOLESCENT WILL THUS PARTICIPATE IN ACTS OF PROPERTY DESTRUCTION IN ORDER NOT TO APPEAR 'CHICKEN', IN OTHER WORDS, HE CAN, THROUGH THIS INVOLVEMENT, MAINTAIN A SATISFYING SELF-DEFINITION AND AVOID BECOMING A MARGINAL MEMBER OF THE GROUP. EVEN THOUGH HE MAY RECOGNIZE THE ACT TO BE 'WRONG' OR 'DELINQUENT,' HE FINDS SOME COMFORT THROUGH THE GUILT-ASSUAGING RATIONALIZATIONS PRESENT IN THE SUBCULTURE OF THE PEER GROUP. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)