Abstract
It is argued that a multidimensional approach to self-concept may reveal intricate relations between self-concept and delinquent behavior, and that perceived approval of delinquent behaviors from referent groups may be related to the frequency of their occurrence. To evaluate these hypotheses, 1668 students from Grade 7 to Grade 9 responded to a questionnaire that measured their general self-esteem; their self-concept with regard to physical ability, social ability, physical appearance, and academic ability; the frequency they committed 15 delinquent acts; and the perceived approval of committing these acts from their parents, teachers, and friends. Regression analyses indicated that poor academic self-concept and poor relationship with school and parents were related to a higher frequency of delinquent behavior. However, a higher frequency of delinquent behavior was related to a more positive selfconcept with regard to social ability and physical ability. Finally, higher perceived approval from parents and peers was related to more delinquent behavior. Implications of these findings for identifying the antecedents and consequences of delinquent behavior were discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bachman, J. G. (1970).Youth in Transition, Vol. 1: The Impact of Family Background and Intelligence on Tenth-Grade Boys. Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI.
Becker, H. S. (1963).Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press, New York.
Brittain, C. V. (1963). Adolescent choices and parent-peer cross-pressures.Am. Sociol. Rev. 28: 385–391.
Bynner, J. M., O'Malley, P. M., and Bachman, J. G. (1981). Self-esteem and delinquency revisited.J. Youth Adoles. 10: 407–444.
cheung, P. C., and Lau, S. (1985). Self-esteem: Its relationship to the family and school social environments among Chinese adolescents.Youth Society 16: 438–456.
Goodman, N. (1969). Adolescent norms and behavior: Organization and conformity.Merrill-Palmer Quart. 15: 199–211.
Hindelang, M. J., Hirschi, T., and Weis, J. G. (1981).Measuring Delinquency. Sage, Beverly Hills, CA.
Kahle, L. R., Kulka, R. A., and Klingel, D. M. (1980). Low adolescent self-esteem leads to multiple interpersonal problems: A test of social-adaptation theory.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 39: 496–502.
Kaplan, H. B. (1972). Toward a general theory of psychosocial deviance: The case of aggressive behavior.Social Sci. Med. 6: 593–617.
Kaplan, H. B. (1975).Self-Attitudes and Deviant Behavior. Goodyear, Santa Monica, CA.
Kaplan, H. G. (1978). Deviant behavior and self-enhancement in Adolescence.J. Youth Adoles. 7: 253–277.
Kaplan, H. B. (1980).Deviant Behavior in Defense of Self. Academic Press, New York.
Kaplan, H. B. (1982). Self-attitudes and deviant behavior: New directions for theory and research.Youth Society 14: 185–211.
Kaplan, H. B., Johnson, R. J., and Bailey, C. A. (1986). Self-rejection and the explanation of deviance: Refinement and elaboration of a latent structure.Social Psychol. Quart. 49: 110–128.
Kaplan, H. B., Martin, S. S., and Johnson, R. J. (1986). Self-rejection and the explanation of deviance: Specification of the structure among latent constructs.Am. J. Sociol. 92: 384–411.
Kaplan, H. B., and Robbins, C. (1983). Testing a general theory of deviant behavior in longitudinal perspective. In Van Dusen, K. T., and Mednick, S. A. (eds.),Prospective Studies of Crime and Delinquency. Kluwer-Nijhoff, Boston.
Lau, S. (1985). Developmental changes in self-perceptions of Chinese children and adolescents. Unpublished manuscript, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Lemert, E. M. (1967).Human Deviance, Social Problems, and Social Control. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Leung, K., and Drasgow, F. (1986). Relation between self-esteem and delinquent behavior in three ethnic groups: An application of item response theory.J. Cross-Cult. Psychol. 17: 151–167.
Li, C. C. (1975).Path Analysis: A Primer. The Boxwood Press, Pacific Grove, CA.
Markus, H., and Wurf, E. (1987). The dynamic self-concept: A social psychological perspective.Ann. Rev. Psychol. 38: 299–337.
Marsh, H. W., and Parker, J. W. (1984). Determinants of student self-concept: Is it better to be a relatively large fish in a small pond even if you don't learn to swim as well?J. Personal. Social Psychol. 47: 213–231.
Marsh, H. W., Parker, J., and Barnes, J. (1985). Multidimensional adolescent self-concept: Their relationship to age, sex, and academic measures.Am. Educat. Res. J. 22: 422–444.
marsh, H. W., Relich, J. D., and Smith, I. D. (1983). Self-concept: The construct validity of interpretations based upon the SDQ.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 45: 173–187.
Marsh, H. W., and Richards, G. E. (1986). Multidimensional self-concepts: The effects of participation in an outward bound program.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 50: 195–204.
Matza, D. (1964).Delinquency and Drift. John Wiley, New York.
McCarthy, J. D., and Hoge, D. R. (1984). The dynamics of self-esteem and delinquency.Am. J. Sociol. 90: 396–410.
Moos, R. H., and Trickett, E. J. (1974).Classroom Environment Scale Manual. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA.
Richman, C. L., Brown, K. P., and Clark, M. L. (1984). The relationship between self-esteem and maladaptive behaviors in high school students.Social Behav. Personal. 12: 177–185.
Rosenberg, M. (1965)Society and the Adolescent Self Image. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
Rosenberg, F. R., and Rosenberg, M. (1978). Self-esteem and delinquency.J. Youth Adoles. 7: 279–291.
Rutter, M., and Giller, H. (1983).Juvenile Delinquency: Trends and Perspectives. Penguin Books, Suffolk.
Shavelson, R. J., and Bolus, R. (1982). Self-concept: The interplay of theory and methods.J. Educat. Psychol. 74: 3–17.
Shavelson, R. J., Hubner, J. J., and Stanton, G. C. (1976). Self-concepts: Validation of construct interpretations.Rev. Educat. Res. 46: 407–441.
Stager, S. F., Chassin, L., and Young, R. D. (1983). Determinants of self-esteem among labeled adolescents.Social Psychol. Quart. 46: 3–10.
Wells, L. E., and Rankin, J. H. (1983). Self-concept as a mediating factor in delinquency.Social Psychol Quart. 46: 11–22.
Wylie, R. C. (1979).The Self-Concept: Theory and Research on Selected Topics (Vol. 2). University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received his Ph.D. from University of Illinois in social, industrial, and organizational psychology. His research interests included cross-cultural psychology, social justice, and the psychology of adolescence.
Received his Ph.D. from Purdue University, and his research interests include values, selfconcept, family processes, and the psychology of adolescence.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leung, K., Lau, S. Effects of self-concept and perceived disapproval of delinquent behavior in school children. J Youth Adolescence 18, 345–359 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139254
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139254