School Identification and Delinquency Proneness

Abstract

Is a lack of identification with social institutions important in the etiology of delinquency? Guttman scales were developed to measure six dimensions of the adolescent's identification with educational institutions: Capacity to Learn, Value of Education, Legitimacy, Teachers—General, Teachers—Personal, and Teach ers—Academic. The findings indicate delinquents are less likely to identify with the school than are nondelinquents and specify the dimensions along which identification is particularly absent. No differences between delinquent and nondelinquent boys were found in two dimensions, Value of Education and Attitude to ward Teachers—Academic.