NCJ Number
18904
Date Published
1969
Length
128 pages
Annotation
RESEARCH STUDY WHICH CONTRASTS THE PERSONALITY DYNAMICS, THE LIFE CONDITIONS, AND THE RESPONSES OF THE URBAN, DEPRIVED MEXICAN-AMERICAN DELINQUENT WITH HIS NON-DELINQUENT COUNTERPART.
Abstract
POSTULATING THAT DELINQUENT ACTS REFLECT REACTIONS AGAINST DEEP-SEATED FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY OR INFERIORITY OF THE YOUTHS INVOLVED. THE RESEARCHER HYPOTHESIZED THAT SUCH FEELINGS WOULD BE REFLECTED IN AN OVEREMPAHSIS ON MASCULINITY OF BEHAVIOR. THE STUDY SPECIFICALLY SOUGHT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE YOUTHS SEE THEMSELVES AS INADEQUATE, AS ALIENTATED FROM THE LARGER SOCIETY, WITH A NEGATIVE IDENTITY, AND AS REJECTING OF THEIR OWN FATHERS. IT WAS THE FURTHER PURPOSE TO STUDY THE PATTERNS OF IDENTITY FORMATION AND COMMITMENT OR INVOLVEMENT WHICH THESE BOYS EXPRESSED RELATIVE TO THE FAMILY, OTHER SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS, AND TO THE LARGER SOCIETY. TWO TWO GROUPS OF BOYS (39 DELINQUENTS AND 38 NONDELINQUENTS) BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIFTEEN AND ONE-HALF AND NINETEEN AND ONE-HALF WERE COMPARED. ALL MEMBERS OF THE DELINQUENT GROUP HAD BEEN COMMITTED TO EITHER A YOUTH AUTHORITY OR A COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT FACILITY AT LEAST TWICE. IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH GROUPS WERE DEVIANT FROM THE NORMS (SCORING BELOW NORMAL) ON ALMOST EVERY SCALE. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND THAT DELINQUENTS CAME MORE OFTEN FROM BROKEN HOMES AND THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT AGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS. THE EXPECTED TRAIT OF COMPENSATORY MASCULINITY WAS SHARED BY BOTH GROUPS, A PHENOMENON ASCRIBED TO THE 'MACHISMO' TRADITION. THE STUDY DESIGN, HYPOTHESES, AND THE STATISTICAL PROCEDURES USED ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SIMILAR STUDIES AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PRESENT STUDY ARE ALSO PRESENTED. A TEN-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)