Abstract

The present study attempted to investigate the role of peer group in juvenile delinquency. 356 boys in senior high school first or second grade (Normal Group) and 125 juvenile delinquent boys in the detention center (Delinquent Group) were given a self-report questionnaire on self-concept in four areas (academic ability, physical ability, relationship with parents and peers). They were also asked respond to hypothetical situations which depicted peers urging a boy to perform either delinquent or neutral behavior. The Normal Group were also given a questionnaire on the self- report frequency of 25 delinquent acts. In the Normal Group, poor academic self-concept and poor relationship with parents and positive self-concept with regard to relationship with peers were related to high conformity to delinquent behavior which was related to high frequency of delinquent acts. In the Delinquent Group, more positive self-concept with regard to relationship with peers and poor academic self-concept, poor relationship with parents were related to conformity to delinquent behavior. The relationship between self-concept and conformity to neutral behavior was significant in the Normal Group but not in the Delinquent Group. The Delinquent Group was higher in conformity to peer group than the Normal Group but the correlation between conformity to delinquent behavior and conformity to neutral behavior was significant only for the Normal Group. Various dimensions of self-concept appear to interact with one other to influence conformity to delinquent behavior; thus in evaluating the effect of self-concept on conformity, the possibility of interaction between dimensions needs to be considered. The result are discussed in terms of differences between normal group and delinquent group in the pattern of interrelationship among self-concept, conformity to peer group and delinquent behaviors.