Adolescence,Commitment,and Delinquency

Abstract

This study is an empirical examination of the concept of "Youth Culture" and its relevance to the study of juvenile delinquency. Utilizing data from 410 male high school students in the Pacific Northwest, a factor analysis suggests three aspects of adolescence significant to our study: (1) involvement in activi ties with other adolescents; (2) engagement in activity and behavior aimed at school success, followed by college and a white-collar career; and (3) acceptance of peer over adult pres sures. While involvement, commitment, and rebellion appear to be relatively independent of each other, there was general con firmation of the hypothesis that trouble, including delinquency, lies negatively in the commitment and positively in the peer rebellion dimensions. The study suggests that, for some, delin quency might occur when the lowering of commitment to the relatively unidimensional definition of success available to ado lescents is followed by movement toward a peer culture which provides support for anti-adult attitudes and behaviors.