Citation

Gordon RA, Short JF, Cartwright DS, Strodtbeck FL. Am. J. Sociol. 1963; 69(2): 109-128.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1963, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/223541

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Deduced from three theoretical positions on gang delinquency, hypotheses concerning the values of gang, non-gang lower-class, and non-gang middle-class boys were tested with a semantic differential. Contrary to expectation, the data indicated no differences between gang, lower-class, and middle-class boys, both Negro and white, in their evaluation and legitimation of behaviors representing middle-class prescriptive norms. These middle-class behaviors were also rated higher than deviant behaviors governed by middle-class proscriptive norms. The samples differed most in their attitude toward the deviant behaviors, tending to form a gradient, with gang boys most tolerant, middle-class boys least tolerant.