Social bonding and delinquency: a multivariate analysis

This study presents a multivariate analysis of the basic propositions of social bonding theory, including the refinement of some of the basic indicators and the addition of many relevant variables as indicated by recent research. A synthesized model is proposed and six general propositions are derived: (a) attachment to significant others, commitment to conventional institutions, belief in conventional values, and involvement in conventional activities will vary positively with each other; (b) fear of sanctions is positively related to commitment to conventional institutions and attachments to significant others; (c) attachment to significant others, commitment to conventional institutions, belief in conventional values, involvement in conventional activities and fear of sanctions will be inversely related to participation in delinquent activity; (d) participation in delinquent activity is inversely related to the conventionality of .significant others; (e) females will experience greater levels of affective attachments, and conventional commitments, involvements, and beliefs than will males and also will be less involved in delinquent behavior than males; and (f) rural respondents will experience higher levels of conventional belief than urban respondents and will be less involved in delinquent behavior than urban respondents. The model was tested using primary data on 733 middle and high school students from public schools in Richmond, Virginia and in Franklin County, Virginia. Nearly all proposed relationships are supported; significant exceptions are discussed. The importance of the synthesized bonding model for integrated theories of delinquency is discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Department dc:contributor.department

Sociology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1984

Author dc:creator

• Gardner, Robert LeGrande

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Shoemaker, Donald J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Bryant, Clifton D.
• Hughes, Michael
• Hillery, George A. Jr.
• Skipper, James K. Jr.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/74696

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/74696