Citation

Shechory M, Laufer A. Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol. 2011; 55(2): 326-343.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0306624X09352618

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study aims to examine the factors that channel boys and girls toward committing illegal activity. The measures examined include social control factors (belief, commitment, attachment, and involvement) and ideological religious worldviews. The study examines 262 Israeli adolescents who have taken part in illegal and legal activities during the resistance to the Gaza evacuation. Findings suggest that illegal activity levels are greater among boys than girls, whereas ideological obligation and commitment are greater among girls than boys. Involvement with friends positively predicts ideological obligation among boys, which in turn is related to increased likelihood of illegal activity. Among girls, lower commitment and lower belief as well as greater ideological obligation are predictive of illegal activity.