Theories of subculture and juvenile delinquency in China

• In Event: Tests of Theories in Chinese Situations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relative utility of subculture theories and juvenile delinquency and crime. Over the course of five decades, several well-known theories have been developed to explain juvenile delinquent and criminal behavior, including subculture of violence, delinquent subculture, and subterranean values. These theories have been tested extensively in the U.S. since their inception. While a review of the literature identified over 20 studies on juvenile delinquency and its correlates in the Chinese settings (Zhang, 2008), the empirical research focusing on the subculture theories is rare in China. Thus, this study tests these three subculture theories using a sample of official juvenile delinquents in China. The findings will shed lights on the relative utility of the three theories in the Chinese settings.

Authors

• Jihong Solomon Zhao, Sam Houston State University

• Ling Ren, Sam Houston State University

• Hongwei Zhang, Guangxi University

• Ruohui Zhao, University of Macau