A Longitudinal Test of Social Control Theory and Delinquency

Recent longitudinal research suggests that cross-sectional studies have exaggerated the importance of Hirschi's social control theory. This longitudinal research, however, suffers from one or more of the following problems: (a) measures of questionable validity and/or reliability; (b) misspecified causal models, including models that omit important variables and fail to examine the reciprocal and contemporaneous effects between variables; and (c) the failure to consider certain methodological problems peculiar to panel analysis, such as autocorrelation. Most of these problems reduce the likelihood of finding a causal effect from social control to delinquency, and so make the findings of the longitudinal studies suspect. This article uses data from the first two waves of the National Youth Survey to overcome these problems, and provide a more accurate estimate of the effect of social control on delinquency.

[1]  M. Krohn,et al.  Social influences and constraints on the initiation and cessation of adolescent tobacco use , 1985, Journal of behavioral medicine.

[2]  K. Bollen.  A New Incremental Fit Index for General Structural Equation Models , 1989 .

[3]  R. Paternoster,et al.  DISAGGREGATING SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY* , 1988 .

[4]  D. Osgood,et al.  The generality of deviance in late adolescence and early adulthood. , 1988 .

[5]  R. Paternoster.  Examining Three-Wave Deterrence Models: A Question of Temporal Order and Specification , 1988 .

[6]  T. P. Thornberry,et al.  TOWARD AN INTERACTIONAL THEORY OF DELINQUENCY , 1987 .

[7]  Michael R. Gottfredson,et al.  THE METHODOLOGICAL ADEQUACY OF LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH ON CRIME , 1987 .

[8]  H. White,et al.  LONGITUDINAL PREDICTORS OF SERIOUS SUBSTANCE USE AND DELINQUENCY , 1987 .

[9]  B. Wheaton,et al.  Assessment of Fit in Overidentified Models with Latent Variables , 1987 .

[10]  Stephen A. Cernkovich,et al.  FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND DELINQUENCY , 1987 .

[11]  Kristine L. Anderson,et al.  The dimensionality of the social bond , 1987 .

[12]  S. R. Burkett,et al.  RELIGIOSITY, PEER ASSOCIATIONS, AND ADOLESCENT MARIJUANA USE: A PANEL STUDY OF UNDERLYING CAUSAL STRUCTURES* , 1987 .

[13]  M. Krohn,et al.  A Longitudinal Examination of an Integrated Social Process Model of Deviant Behavior , 1986 .

[14]  S. Bahr,et al.  Test of a Bonding/Association Theory of Adolescent Drug Use , 1986 .

[15]  R. Paternoster,et al.  The Deterrent Effect of Perceived Severity: A Reexamination , 1986 .

[16]  A. Liska,et al.  Ties to Conventional Institutions and Delinquency: Estimating Reciprocal Effects. , 1985 .

[17]  Ronald L. Akers,et al.  Social Learning Theory and Adolescent Cigarette Smoking: A Longitudinal Study , 1985 .

[18]  R. Agnew.  SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY AND DELINQUENCY: A LONGITUDINAL TEST , 1985 .

[19]  H. White,et al.  AGE DIFFERENCES IN DELINQUENCY: A TEST OF THEORY* , 1985 .

[20]  J. D. McCarthy,et al.  The Dynamics of Self-Esteem and Delinquency , 1984, American Journal of Sociology.

[21]  D. Bishop,et al.  Legal and Extralegal Barriers to Delinquency , 1984 .

[22]  T. P. Thornberry,et al.  Unemployment and criminal involvement: an investigation of reciprocal causal structures. , 1984, American sociological review.

[23]  Mitchell B. Chamlin,et al.  Estimating Attitude-Behavior Reciprocal Effects Within a Theoretical Specification , 1984 .

[24]  R. Meier,et al.  Sanctions Peers, and Deviance: Preliminary Models Of A Social Control Process* , 1983 .

[25]  Ayala Cohen,et al.  Comparing Regression Coefficients Across Subsamples , 1983 .

[26]  D. Elliott,et al.  Social Class and Delinquent Behavior in a National Youth Panel: 1976–1980 , 1983 .

[27]  L. Wells,et al.  Self-concept as a mediating factor in delinquency. , 1983, Social psychology quarterly.

[28]  Ted Chiricos,et al.  Perceived risk and social control: Do sanctions really deter? , 1983 .

[29]  R. Kessler,et al.  Equilibrium and Identification in Linear Panel Models , 1982 .

[30]  P. O'Malley,et al.  Self-esteem and delinquency revisited , 1981, Journal of youth and adolescence.

[31]  P. Bentler,et al.  Significance Tests and Goodness of Fit in the Analysis of Covariance Structures , 1980 .

[32]  Marvin D. Krohn,et al.  Social Control and Delinquent Behavior: An Examination of the Elements of the Social Bond , 1980 .

[33]  Delbert S. Elliott,et al.  Reconciling race and class differences in self-reported and official estimates of delinquency. , 1980 .

[34]  Michael W. Gillespie,et al.  Specification Error and Negatively Correlated Disturbances in "Parallel" Simultaneous-Equation Models , 1980 .

[35]  J McCord.  Some child-rearing antecedents of criminal behavior in adult men. , 1979, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[36]  A. R. Mahoney.  The Effect of Labeling upon Youths in the Juvenile Justice System: A Review of the Evidence , 1974 .