Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department or Program

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Advisor

Mullins, Christopher

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated the important role gender plays in determining the likelihood of involvement in delinquent behavior. Earlier theories of delinquency, including Hirschi’s theory of social control have ignored the importance of gender by ignoring females all together. Using data derived from Wave 1 of the National Youth Survey, the purpose of this study is to conduct a partial test of Hirschi’s Social Control theory to determine whether the theory can properly explain not only delinquency in boys, but also delinquency among girls.

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