Socioeconomic Status and Delinquent Behavior

Abstract

Assumptions frequently made as to the differential status distribution of delinquent behavior are questioned. Data obtained from samples of institutionalized and non-institutionalized high-school-age pupils in western and midwestern communities revealed insufficient evidence to reject the hyothesis that there is no significant difference in the amount of delinquent behavior of boys and girls in different socioeconomic strata. The slight differences that were found favored the low-status group as often as the high-status group. the findings have implications for etiological theories based upon the assumed status differential in delinquent behavior.