JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AMONG

382 Pages·2010·7.36 MB·English

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AMONG
SECONDARYSCHOOLCmLDREN
WITH REFERENCE TO THE
INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY: A
SOCIO-CRIMINOLOGICAL STUDY
By
LANGALIDALELE PRINCE MQADI
"JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AMONG SECONDARY
SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH REFERENCE TO THE
INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY : A SOCIO
CRIMINOLOGICAL STUDY"
By
LANGALIBALELE PRINCE MQADI
RA. (SW), M.A. (UZ)
submittedinfidfilo]ebIofthe requirements for the degree of-
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
inthe Department ofCriminal Justice
at the University ofZululand
PROMOTER: PROF PJ POTGIETER
CO-PROMOTER: PROFPT SIBAYA
DATE OF SUBMISSION: DECEMBER 1994
1
DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to:
my late parents Josiah Bodwa and Mary-Jane Phumzile
(MaMadlala) whose love for education laid the foundation
of my academic interest;
my dear wife Phindi (MaHlongwane) whose patience and
encouragement has always been a source of inspiration;
my loving children Lwandle, Nkanyezi, Nyanga, Phakade and
Phesheya; and
all my brothers and sisters who have always supported me
in my academic endevours.
To all of them, I say: Ngiyabonga MaMbuyisa!
n
DECLARATION
I declare that the thesis "Juvenile delinquency among secondary
school children with reference to the influence of the family:
A socio-criminological study" is my own work both in conception
and in execution. All the sources that I have made use of or
quoted have been acknowledged by means of complete references.
L.P. MQADI
11l
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to express my gratitude to the following:
my promoter Professor P J Potgieter whose guidance has
made this work a success;
Professor Themba Sibaya, the co-promoter, and Head of the
Department of Educational Psychology, University of
Zululand, whose knowledge and advice on statistical
techniques made this work what it is;
the secondary school Principals and their respective staff
members for their kind permissions and assistance in the
collection of data;
Mrs Jill Thomas for her skill and efficiency in typing the
report; and
the Research Committee of the university of Zululand for
partly financing the study.
IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
DEDICATION (i)
DECLARATION (ii )
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (iii)
CONTENTS (iv)
TABLES (xii)
FIGURES (xvi)
ANNEXURES (xvii)
SUMMARY (xviii)
OPSOMMING (xxi)
CHAPTER 1 : GENERAL ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY
1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1
1.1.1 Sex and delinquency 4
1.1.2 Age and delinquency 5
1.1.3 Family economics and delinquency 7
1.1.4 Family structure and delinquency 9
1.1.5 Family religiousness 10
1.1.6 Parental affection and rejection 11
1.1.7 Family discipline 12
1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 13
1.3 RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY 14
1.4 APPROACH TO THE STUDY 15
1.4.1 Deductive approach 15
1.4.2 Inductive approach 15
1.5 HYPOTHESES 17
1.6 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY 19
1.6.1 spatial delimitation- 20
v
1.6.2 Qualitative delimitation 21
1.6.3 Quantitative delimitation 21
1.7 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS 21
1.7.1 Juvenile delinquency 22
1.7.1.1 Legal definition 23
1.7.1.2 Status-offence definition 23
1.7.1.3 Criminological definition 24
1.7.2 Family 25
1.7.2.1 Phases of a family 25
1.7.2.2 Relationships among persons 26
1.7.2.3 Pattern of marriage 27
1.7.2.4 Common homestead 27
1.7.2.5 Family structure 28
1.7.3 Adolescence and childhood 29
1.7.3.1 Child 29
1.7.3.2 Adolescent 30
1.8 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY 32
1.9 SUMMARY 33
CHAPTER 2 : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN
2.1 INTRODUCTION 35
2.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 35
2.3 RESEARCH METHODS 37
2.3.1 Method of case analysis 38
2.3.2 The method of mass observation 39
2.3.3 The analytical method 39
2.4 RESEARCH TECHNIQUES 41
2.4.1 Literature study technique 42
2.4.2 Sampling techniques 43
2.4.2.1 Probability sampling 44
2.4.2.2 Nonprobability sampling 45
2.4.3 Data collection techniques and sources of data 45
2.4.3.1 Official statistics . 47
VI
2.4.3.2 Self-report surveys 48
2.4.3.2.1 Comparison of self-report and official measures
of delinquency 49
2.4.3.2.2 Limitations of self-report surveys 51
2.4.3.2.3 Reliability and validity of self-report measures
of delinquency 52
2.5 PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES ADOPTED DURING THE
STUDY 58
2.5.1 Literature review 58
2.5.1.1 Official documents 58
2.5.1.2 Research reports 59
2.5.1.3 Book and periodicals 60
2.5.2 Self-report survey 61
2.5.3 Self-administered questionnaire 62
2.5.4 The sample 63
2.5.5 Fieldwork 65
2.5.6 statistical analysis of data 69
2.5.6.1 Reliability of items:Internal consistency 69
2.5.6.2 Validity of the measurement 72
2.5.6.3 Statistical processing of data 77
2.6 ~UMMARY 86
CHAPTER 3 : SOCIO-CRIMINOLOGICAL EXPLANATION MODELS OF
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
3.1 INTRODUCTION 88
3.2 SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY 89
3.2.1 Introduction 89
3.2.2 Shaw and McKay:Delinquency Areas 89
3.2.3 Thomas : The unadjusted girl 91
3.2.4 Thrasher : The Gang 91
3.2.5 Critique and significance of the social disorga
nisation theory 92
vu
3.3 CULTURAL TRANSMISSION THEORY 93
3.3.1 Introduction 93
3.3.2 Sutherland : Differential Association theory 93
3.3.3 Burgess and Akers:Differential Association -
Reinforcement theory 95
3.3.4 Miller: Lower-class culture theory 97
3.3.5 Sykes and Matza:Techniques of neutralization 100
3.3.6 Critique and significance of the cultural
transmission theory 103
3.4 SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY 104
3.4.1 Introduction 104
3.4.2 Reiss:Personal and social controls 104
3.4.3 Toby: Stake in conformity 105
3.4.4 Nye: Family relationships 106
3.4.5 Hirschi:Elements of bond 108
3.4.6 Critique and significance of the social control
theory 110
3.5 GENERAL STRAIN THEORY 111
3.5.1 Introduction 111
3.5.2 Merton: Social Structure and Anomie 112
3.5.3 Cohen: Delinquent subculture theory 115
3.5.4 Cloward and Ohlin: Differential Opportunity
structure theory 116
3.5.5 Critique and significance of the strain theory 118
3.6 THEORETICAL MODELS RELEVANT TO THE STUDY 119
3.6.1 Measures of family influence 120
3.6.1.1 Sex and delinquency 120
3.6.1.2 Age and delinquency 121
3.6.1.3 The family structure and parental economic
activities 122
3.6.1.4 Family control and juvenile delinquency 122
3.6.1.4.1 Family religiousness 123
3.6.1.4.2 Parental supervision 124
3.6.1.4.3 Parental discipline 125
3.6.1.4.4 Parental affection 126
Vl1l
3.6.2 Measures of delinquency 127
3.6.2.1 Norm infringements 127
3.6.2.2 Regulation infringements 128
3.6.2.3 Alcohol and drug abuse 129
3.6.2.4 Violent behaviour 130
3.6.2.5 Theft 131
3.6.2.6 Malicious damage to property 132
3.7 SUMMARY 134
CHAPTER 4 : SEX DIFFERENCES IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
4.1 INTRODUCTION 135
4.2 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SEX AND DELINQUE~CY 136
4.3 THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS OF GENDER DIFFERENCES
IN DELINQUENCY 138
4.3.1 Lombroso's female offender theory (1911) 139
4.3.2 Thomas' Psychobiological theory (1923) 139
4.3.3 Pollak's chivalry hypothesis (1950) 140
4.3.4 Konopka's conflict theory (1966) 141
4.3.5 Adler's sex role theory (1975) 142
4.3.6 Hagan's power control theory (1988) 142
4.4 GENDER COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF MALE AND FEMALE
DELINQUENCY PATTERNS 144
4.4.1 Clark and Haurek (1966) 144
4.4.2 Wise (1967) 145
4.4.3 Weiss (1975) 146
4.4.4 Cockburn and Maclay (1965) 146
4.4.5 Kratcoski and Kratcoski (1975) 146
4.4.6 South African comparative data on gender diffe
rences in delinquency 147
4.5 PRESENTATION AND ANALYSES OF DATA 149
4.6 SUMMARY 165