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Self-Esteem and Delinquency
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Self-Esteem and Delinquency

Florence Rosenberg, Morris Rosenberg and Michael D Rosenberg
Journal of youth and adolescence, v 7(3), pp 279-291
01 Sep 1978
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537978
PMID: 24408810

Abstract

Delinquency, juvenile Esteem Self
Examined is the relationship between delinquency & self-esteem. Data were drawn from interviews with 2,213 tenth-grade males in 87 United States high schools in 1966 & from a second wave in 1968 with 1,886 of the same population (J. Bachman et al, Youth in Transition, Volume I, Blueprint for a Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Boys, Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, 1972). Five indexes of delinquency were measured: (1) occurrence in school, (2) frequency, (3) seriousness, (4) theft & vandalism, & (5) total delinquency. Crosslagged panels correlations were used between these indexes & self-esteem, showing that self-esteem contributes more strongly to delinquency than the converse, particularly in the lower class. The data thus support H. Kaplan's theory (Self-Attitudes and Deviant Behavior, Pacific Palisades: Goodyear Publishing, 1975) that low self-esteem is a primary causal factor in delinquency. In Comments on 'Self-Esteem and Delinquency,' Joan McCord (Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa), disputes the Rosenbergs's conclusions & recommendations, arguing that poor family relations are causal for both low self-esteem & delinquency. In their Reply to Joan McCord's Comment, the Rosenbergs maintain that their methodology precludes any extraneous factors. 3 Tables, 2 Figures. E. Larsen.

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