Citation

Bartusch DJ, Matsueda RL. Soc. Forces 1996; 75(1): 145-176.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Social Forces Journal, Publisher University of North Carolina Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article builds upon a symbolic interactionist model of delinquency (Matsueda 1992) by assessing whether an interactionist model can account for the gender gap in delinquent behavior. We argue that delinquency is determined in part by the self as conceived by symbolic interactionists, which in turn is determined by a process of labeling by significant others. We estimate a cross-gender model of delinquency using data from the National Youth Survey and find that, for both males and females, parental appraisals significantly affect youths' reflected appraisals, which in turn predict delinquency. Nevertheless, we find some gender interactions: for males, parental labeling and reflected appraisals have a larger effect on delinquency, and males are more likely to be falsely accused by parents. When we take into account gender differences in both levels of independent variables and the magnitude of effects of those variables, our model explains a substantial portion of the gender gap in delinquency. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Social Forces, 1996. Copyright © 1996 by Social Forces; The University of North Carolina Press)

Gender Differences
Juvenile Female
Juvenile Male
Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Offender
Male Delinquency
Male Offender
Male Crime
Female Offender
Female Crime
Female Delinquency
Juvenile Crime
Labeling
Crime Causes
Delinquency Causes
Theory
09-02