Bases of prestige among high and low delinquent street-corner groups
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Abstract
In order to determine differential bases of prestige, this study
compared two age segments of a highly delinquent street-corner group
with the two corresponding age segments of a moderately delinquent street-corner
group. The corresponding age segments were matched for age,
ethnicity, and religion. There were 116 boys in all.
The data were obtained from the process records of "detached
social workers" who observed the groups for periods averaging 18 months.
These field data were subjected to a standardized content analysis system
formulated within the cultural anthropological framework. A 19 percent random sample of prestige-oriented acts from this universe constituted
the study population.
IBM procedure was utilized to obtain tabulations of interaction
with reference to cultural practices (drinking, fighting), sports, and
club activities, and worker functions. Cultural practices and sportsclub
activities were classified into those reflecting lower class, middle
class, and adolescent behavior. This was supplemented by scanning
the qualitative data.
The findings showed that high delinquency was associated with
lower social class, lack of father figures, high commitment to lower class
behavior, and low in-volvement in age-linked adolescent activities. There
was a noticeable lack of concern with middle class behavior. Conversely,
moderate delinquenqy was related to somewhat higher social class, presence
of father figures, less involvement in lower class behavior, and high
commitment to adolescent supported behavior. This group also showed a
negligible involvement in middle class behavior.
It was apparent from the data that differential group functions
reflected differential social organization and acculturation. The functions
performed by the groups were related to aspects of lower class
subculture. The greater involvement in lower class culture by the more
delinquent groups, indicated that the etiology of delinquency can be better
understood by further investigating that subculture. [TRUNCATED]
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University
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