1. Social Correlates of Delinquency The School

2. Significance of the School in the Study of Delinquency • Compulsory school attendance means that all children spend significant time in school • Hence, school is playing an increasing role in the socialization of children • The time spent in school also means that children are spending significant time with peer groups

3. The School and Delinquency:Proposed Effects • Two contradictory predictions about the role of the school in delinquency: • The school causes delinquency • School experiences are frustrating, especially to underachievers and others who don’t fit in • Hence, the more time spent in school, the more frustration, and the more delinquency • The school prevents delinquency • Here, the argument is that the school teaches children proper values, monopolizes their time, and builds positive relationships • Hence, spending time in school should reduce the delinquency School Attendance Frustration Delinquency Positive Values, Relationships School Attendance Less Delinquency

4. Theoretical Basis for Positions • Each of these positions is grounded in two theoretical perspectives examined earlier: • School produces delinquency: • Strain theory • School prevents delinquency • Control theory

5. Testing the Theories:Elliot Study • Hypotheses • Rate of delinquency greater for boys while in school than out of school • Delinquents who drop out have higher rate while in school than while out • Method • 743 10th grade boys • Data gathered from 10th-12th grade • “Graduates”=those who graduated or were in school entire time • “Dropouts”=those who left school in the study period • Delinquency measured by official contact Findings

6. Testing the Theories:Thornberry et al. Study Hypotheses Strain Theory: Criminal behavior of dropouts should decline more sharply than that of graduates after leaving school, and rates for dropouts should converge quickly with those of graduates Control Theory: Natural decline during post-high school years should be more gradual for dropouts than graduates, and will not converge with decline for graduates Method Sample: 10% sample of Philadelphia Birth Cohort Study (N=567 boys) Variables:Dropping Out, Criminal Involvement (arrests), Race, Father’s Occupation, Marital Status, Employment Status

7. Testing the Theories:Thornberry et al. Study Findings