Abstract
First-born, middle-born, and last-born white male delinquents in small and large families (N=72) were compared on 21 variables. Seven of the 21 variables showed some effect of either ordinal position, family size, or their interaction: reading achievement, Quay's unsocialized-psychopathic behavior classification, staff predictions of institutional adjustment, family intactness, Gough's socialization scale, future-events test “never” responses, and Rosenberg's self esteem scale. The pattern of results suggested that firstborns and delinquents from smaller families were better socialized or had better socialization resources than lastborns and those from larger families.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Clark, J. P., & Wenninger, E. Socioeconomic class and area as correlates of illegal behavior among juveniles. In D. Cressey & D. Ward (Eds.),Delinquency, crime, and social process. New York: Harper & Row, 1969.
Crowne, D., & Marlowe, D.The approval motive. New York: Wiley, 1964.
Gough, H.California psychological inventory: Manual. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc., 1964.
Katz, I. The socialization of academic motivation in minority group children. In D. Levine (Ed.),Nebraska symposium on motivation, 1967. Lincoln, Neb.: University of Nebraska Press, 1967.
McArthur, C. Personalities of first and second children.Psychiatry, 1956,19, 47–54.
Oberlander, M., Jenkin, N., Houlihan, K., & Jackson, J. Family size and birth order as determinants of scholastic aptitude and achievement in a sample of eighth graders.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1970,34, 19–21.
Quay, H. Personality dimensions in delinquent males as inferred from the factor analysis of behavior ratings.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 1964,1, 33–37.(a)
Quay, H. Dimensions of personality in delinquent males as inferred from the factor analysis of case history data.Child Development, 1964,35, 479–484.(b)
Rosen, B. C. Family structure and achievement motivation.American Sociological Review, 1961,26, 574–585.
Rosenberg, M.Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1965.
Sampson, E. The study of ordinal position: Antecedents and outcomes. In B. A. Maher (Ed.),Progress in experimental personality research. New York: Academic Press, 1965.
Shafer, J. K. The relationship between perceived parental consistency and children's orientation of control. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Oklahoma, 1969.
Stein, K. B., Sarbin, T., & Kulik, J. A. Future time perspective: Its relation to the socialization process and the delinquent role.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1968,32, 257–264.
Sutton-Smith, B., Roberts, J. M., & Rosenberg, B. G. Sibling associations and role involvement.Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 1964,10, 25–38.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was part of a larger research project performed under personal-service contracts CT 24867 and CT 46381 with the Department of Child Welfare, Commonwealth of Kentucky, through Grant No. 73A804 from the Kentucky State Crime Commission with funds made available by the State of Kentucky and the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, under the authority of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or the Kentucky State Crime Commission. Appreciation is extended to Lewis Davidson and Michael McColloch for their data collection efforts.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Murrell, S.A. Relationships of ordinal position and family size to psychosocial measures of delinquents. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2, 39–46 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919352
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919352