R. Gregory Dunaway

Reconsidering strain theory: Operationalization, rival theories, and adult criminality

Recently a revisionist view of strain theorys empirical adequacy has emerged which holds that the theorys explanatory power depends on how it is operationalized. With an adult community sample, we empirically assess three separate measures of strain to explain self-reported crime: the gap between aspirations and expectations, blocked opportunities, and relative deprivation. The findings reveal that the aspirations-expectations measure is not related to criminal involvement, while perceived blocked opportunities and feelings of relative deprivation significantly affect adult offending. These relationships, however, fail to persist after measures from competing theories (i.e., low self-control, differential association, and social bond) are introduced as controls in the regression equations. Thus, measures from rival theories offer a more fruitful approach to explaining self-reported adult offending.

PREDICTORS OF FEAR OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION AT SCHOOL AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Adolescent crime at school, as well as adolescent fear of crime at school, have increasingly become serious social problems. Although many studies have been conducted examining the predictors of fear of crime among adults in various settings, fear of criminal victimization among adolescents at school has been practically ignored. Using a representative sample of 742 high school students from a southeastern state, this study examined the predictors of adolescent fear of crime at school in an attempt to determine whether they are similar to predictors of adult fear of crime. Results indicate that, although the predictors of fear among adolescents are, in many cases, similar to those of adults, there are important differences. As expected, youths with lower levels of perceived safety at school and youths who perceive their neighborhoods as exhibiting signs of incivility were more likely to be fearful of criminal victimization at school. Interestingly, however, there were important differences between adolesc...Adolescent crime at school, as well as adolescent fear of crime at school, have increasingly become serious social problems. Although many studies have been conducted examining the predictors of fear of crime among adults in various settings, fear of criminal victimization among adolescents at school has been practically ignored. Using a representative sample of 742 high school students from a southeastern state, this study examined the predictors of adolescent fear of crime at school in an attempt to determine whether they are similar to predictors of adult fear of crime. Results indicate that, although the predictors of fear among adolescents are, in many cases, similar to those of adults, there are important differences. As expected, youths with lower levels of perceived safety at school and youths who perceive their neighborhoods as exhibiting signs of incivility were more likely to be fearful of criminal victimization at school. Interestingly, however, there were important differences between adolescents and adults regarding the effects of race, gender, and victimization experience and fear of crime. The results from this study indicate that the effects of race and victimization experience on fear of crime vary by gender: Namely, Black males were more fearful than White males, and female victims of crime were more fearful than females who had not been victimized by crime. This study suggests that the phenomena that underlie fear of crime among adults are somewhat different than those of adolescents.

A new test of classic strain theory

The central variable in classic strain theory is the individuals level of dissatisfaction or frustration with his or her monetary status. This variable, however, has been ignored in virtually all tests of the theory. Most often, strain is measured indirectly in terms of the disjunction between aspirations and expectations. This paper directly measures dissatisfaction with monetary status, and draws on classic strain theory to explore the determinants and effects of such dissatisfaction. Data from a sample of adults in Cincinnati indicate that dissatisfaction is highest among objectively deprived individuals and those who desire a lot of money, have low expectations for making a lot of money, and feel relatively deprived. Further, dissatisfaction has a positive effect on both income-generating crime and drug use. This effect is strongest among those who have criminal friends and beliefs conductive to crime. Unlike the findings in much previous research, these data provide qualified support for classic str...

Age, self-control, and adults' offending behaviors: A research note assessing A general theory of crime

This article examined empirically whether Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (1990) “general theory” explained criminal and imprudent behaviors among a community sample of adults across the age distribution. The findings indicated that low self-control was significantly related with both forms of self-reported offending activity through age fifty. Gottfredson and Hirschi’s claim that their theory explained offending across age, therefore, was generally supported. It is suggested that future empirical tests employ the “general theory” as a causal explanation of adult criminality.

The impact of parental controls on delinquency

Previous studies have argued that not only indirect controls but also direct controls lessen delinquency. Through a self-report survey of high school youths, the current study attempts to assess this thesis. Supportive of previous studies, the data revealed that even with a range of theoretically salient variables controlled, direct control was inversely related to delinquent involvement. This relationship, however, was stronger and more consistent for males than females.

Self-Control, Native Traditionalism, and Native American Substance Use: Testing the Cultural Invariance of a General Theory of Crime

Usinga sample of White and Native Americanhigh school students, the authors provide a test of (a) self-control theorys invariance thesis and (b) native traditionalism as an explanation of Native American substance use. Self-control significantly influenced all forms of substance use when controlling for race and in race-specific analyses. However,z tests by race revealed that self-control is a stronger predictor of marijuana and serious drug use among Native Americans. Beyond this simple comparison across groups, the authors control for native traditionalism (as a proxy for cultural variation) among the Native American respondents. In doing so, self-control remained a consistent predictor of their substance use. Although these findings largely support the invariance thesis of self-control, the racial difference related to marijuana and serious drug use poses a theoretical challenge. With regard to native traditionalism, results suggest that those most attached to their native traditions engage in greater substance use.

Victim-offender race and support for capital punishment: A factorial design approach

Existing research suggests that juries are more likely to condemn murderers to death when offenders are black victims are white. It remains to be seen, however, whether these decisions reflect broader racial prejudices in society that are imported into the jury room. If they do, then insuring equity in capital sentencing may be beyond reach. Accordingly, this study uses factorial design methodology to examine whether members of the general public are more supportive of capital punishment when asked to rate a vignette describing a murder involving a white victim and black offender as opposed to other victim-offender racial combinations. Our analyses suggest that the race of the offender, but not the victim, has a significant influence on support for capital punishment. Thus, procedural safeguards alone may be unable to eliminate racial bias in capital sentencing.

Egotism and Delinquent Behavior

A recent work by Baumeister, Smart, and Boden suggested that “threatened egotism” is an important cause of violent behavior. Challenging the view that low self-esteem causes violence, Baumeister et al. held that those with inflated levels of self-esteem are likely to react violently when faced with ego threats. This article presents a preliminary test of the threatened egotism hypothesis with a sample of junior high and high school students in a small Southern city. The results show that egotism is positively associated with violent and nonviolent delinquency and that this relationship holds when a number of important predictors of delinquency are controlled, including social control and self-control. These results provide some support for the threatened egotism hypothesis and suggest that further research in this area is warranted.

Explaining Crime Ideology: An Exploration of the Parental Socialization Perspective

The claim is often made that criminal justice policy reflects, partially or more fully, the public will. Although criminologists have devoted much attention to the sources of citizen attitudes, a potentially important source of crime ideology has been neglected: inter-generational transmission. Informed by the political socialization literature, the present study examines the role of parents in socializing offspring to embrace views toward crime and control. Based on a sample of 152 parent-child pairs, parents were found to be more influential in determining their offsprings conservative as opposed to liberal crime ideology. Possible explanations and policy implications of this finding are explored.

Legalization of crimes against the moral order: Results from the 1995 United States survey of gaming and gambling

A survey of 1,514 American adults revealed a substantial range of support for legalization of selected substances, sexual activities, and gambling behavior perceived by some as potentially threatening to the moral order. Alcohol use, gambling, and smoking received majority support for legalization, whereas substantial minority support was found for gentlemens clubs, prostitution, and marijuana use. There was little support for legalization of cocaine. Support for the legalization of the various “offenses against the moral order” was found generally to vary by five factors: (a) gender— males with higher rates than females, (b) race—Whites with higher rates than non‐Whites, (c) religion— Catholics with higher rates than Protestants, (d) age— young and middle‐aged adults with higher rates than the elderly, and (e) region—West, Northeast, and Midwest with higher rates than the South.