Citation

Teevan JJ, Dryburgh HB. Can. Rev. Sociol. Anthropol. 2000; 37(1): 77-93.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, University of Toronto Press)

DOI

10.1111/j.1755-618X.2000.tb00587.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Fifty-six high school boys were asked to explain in their own words why they had engaged in or refrained from certain delinquencies: fighting, vandalism, petty theft, truancy and drug use. They were also given the opportunity, via a checklist, to tell whether selected sociological theories applied to their behaviour. Their responses revealed considerable overlap in the two forms of data. Strain, general theory, peers, social control, techniques of neutralization and deterrence are important in varying combinations. Labelling and media imitation are not. A contingency theory of delinquency is proposed.