Abstract
A number of theorists argue that delinquency stems from the adolescent's need for autonomy. In particular, the systematic blockage of this need in the United States is said to lead to delinquency by reducing social control and increasing the adolescent's level of frustration and anger. This theory is tested by examining the effect of the need for autonomy on delinquency among a national sample of adolescent boys. Data support the theory, indicating that (1) the need for autonomy is able to explain individual and group variations in delinquency, and (2) the effect of the need for autonomy is explained largely by level of social control and frustration/anger.
Subject
Sociology and Political Science
Cited by
26 articles.
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