NCJ Number
147303
Journal
American Journal of Sociology Volume: 69 Issue: 2 Dated: (September 1963) Pages: 109-128
Date Published
1963
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article examines the values of gangs and nongang groups of lower- and middle-class boys.
Abstract
Deduced from three theoretical positions on gang delinquency, hypotheses concerning the values of gang, nongang lower-class, and nongang middle-class boys were tested with a semantic differential. Contrary to expectations, the data indicated no differences between gang, lower-class, and middle-class boys, both black and white, in their evaluation and legitimation of behaviors representing middle-class prescriptive norms. These middle-class behaviors were also rated higher than deviant behaviors governed by middle-class prescriptive norms. The samples differed most in their attitude toward the deviant behaviors, tending to form a gradient, with gang boys most tolerant, middle-class boys least tolerant. Footnotes, tables, references