Social Distancing of the Neglectful Family

Abstract

The sociological concept of social distance has been applied to the neglectful family in order to elucidate its ecology. A scale was adapted from Bogardus's work, using indicators of social distance relevant to encounters in neighborhoods. Three samples of respondents from different ethnic groups in America expressed relative distancing from a hypothetical neglectful family as contrasted with a family representing valued behavior. The indicators proved consistent across subcultures. The study suggests that children are likely to be isolated except in neighborhoods whose standards deviate from those of the general community.