Journal article
Race, Family Structure, and Delinquency: A Test of Differential Association and Social Control Theories
American sociological review, Vol.52(6), pp.826-840
12/01/1987
DOI: 10.2307/2095837
Abstract
Studies of the relationship between race & delinquency have typically found that broken homes lead to greater delinquency among blacks than among whites, but have not demonstrated empirically why this is so. Theoretical mechanisms are derived from differential association theory & social control theory, specifying how broken homes may influence delinquency among both blacks & nonblacks. The analysis specifies a structural equation model of delinquency (Matsueda, Ross L.; see SA 30:5/82M6804) derives competing hypotheses from the two theories, & estimates a cross-population model for 1,001 blacks & 1,588 nonblacks using data from Alan B. Wilson's Richmond Youth Project (Berkeley: U of California, 1965). Consistent with previous research, it is found that broken homes have a larger impact on delinquency among blacks than nonblacks, but, unlike previous studies, the model explains this effect completely. In both populations, the effects of broken homes & attachment to parents & peers are mediated by the learning of definitions of delinquency, a finding that supports differential association over social control theory. 4 Tables, 1 Figure, 2 Appendixes, 39 References. Modified HA
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Race, Family Structure, and Delinquency: A Test of Differential Association and Social Control Theories
- Creators
- Ross MatsuedaKaren Heimer
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American sociological review, Vol.52(6), pp.826-840
- DOI
- 10.2307/2095837
- ISSN
- 0003-1224
- eISSN
- 1939-8271
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/1987
- Academic Unit
- Law Faculty; Sociology and Criminology; Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984269214302771
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