Drawing from concepts in criminological literature and sociological life-course perspective literature, data from adolescent and young adult measurements collected as part of a longitudinal panel study conducted on a cohort from Harris County, Texas, were used to estimate Structural Equation Models, testing the unmediated and mediated relationships between adolescent deviance, early timing of transitions to adult roles, and adult deviance. First, a simplified three latent variable model was estimated using the full sample (N= 3,379) to examine direct associations among adolescent deviance, early transitions to adulthood, and adult deviance while controlling for prior involvement in deviant behavior in adolescence. An expanded seven latent variable model was then estimated adding mechanisms in adolescence through which the relationships previously observed in the simplified model are mediated. Lastly, both the simplified and expanded models were estimated on eight subgroups in the sample to examine whether the relationships observed for the full sample are moderated by gender, race/ethnicity, paternal level of education, and expectations for future failure in conventional adolescent roles. For the full sample, the simplified model produced significant direct relationshipsbetween adolescent deviance and early transitions to adulthood, and between early transitions to adulthood and adult deviance. When this simplified model was estimated on the eight subgroups, the first relationship remained stable for each of the eight moderating subgroups, while the second relationship did not. When several intervening variables were added between adolescent deviance and early transitions to adulthood in the expanded model, the parameters added to the model using the intervening variables formed a chain of significant direct relationships fully mediating the relationship between adolescent deviance and early transitions to adulthood for the full sample. This chain of significant direct relationships remained stable for five of the eight subgroups, and the three subgroups that did not experience full mediation underwent great attenuation of the relationship. These intervening variables offer avenues for altering the trajectory of behavior seen in the simplified model.

This study sought to examine the relationship between employee deviance within restaurants and the components of social learning theory. The behaviors examined in this research were based on the research of Robinson and Bennett (1995, 2000) who defined employee deviance as two different categories of behavior – one directed against the organization (organizational deviance, production deviance, and property deviance), and the other directed against coworkers (interpersonal deviance). While the literature on employee deviance in restaurants is limited, very few studies take into account more than one type of deviant behavior. In addition, some studies suggest that social learning theory may play a role, but few, if any, studies have examined the relationship between this theory and the types of deviance that are prevalent in the restaurant industry. Therefore, the current study was one of the first examinations of the process of social learning within the restaurant industry, making a contribution to the literature on social learning theory and employee deviance in restaurants. This dissertation used a survey methodology to understand the extent of involvement in deviant behavior by restaurant employees, their coworkers’ involvement in a number of deviant behaviors, the perceived reaction of managers and coworkers to these behaviors, and individual attitudes and perceived attitudes of coworkers of deviance in the restaurant. The survey was administered via the Internet to a random sample of college students. Only those with experience in the restaurant industry were able to participate in the study. The results from this study suggest that while employee deviance occurs in the restaurant industry, it is not prevalent. Although restaurant employees may be involved in certain types of deviance more than others, they are not deviant often. In addition, only two of the measures of social learning, “imitation” and “definitions”, were significant in explaining increased involvement in employee deviance. This indicated that these two components help to understand employee deviance in restaurants more than the other social learning components. / Dr. Jamie Martin Dr. Jennifer Roberts Dr. Erika Frenzel Dr. Timothy Austin

Research has not yet examined the relationship between minor teenage deviance and later adulthood success. Building on previous research by Moffitt (1993) and Hagan’s (1991) youth party-subculture, I will define and compare four adolescent groups based on offending type. I argue that minor deviance, rooted in the party-subculture, will enhance social and networking skills that will be beneficial in adulthood. College attainment, serving as a social control, is expected to moderate the effects of deviance, benefiting party-subculture youth. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health dataset, findings suggest that adolescents engaging in minor deviance are more extroverted in adulthood, with little difference in earnings when compared to party-subculture abstainers. However, adolescent deviants continue substance use and deviance into adulthood significantly more than party-subculture abstainers.

Robert Agnew’s (1992) General Strain Theory significantly revitalized traditional scholarship in the anomie/strain tradition by offering a general theory of crime; purported to account for both criminal and analogous behaviors. GST specifically extends anomie/strain theory by introducing new sources of strain (i.e. loss of positively valued stimuli, presentation of noxious stimuli) into the theoretical framework, as well as elucidating the causal pathways (including mediating and moderating effects) leading from the experience of strain to deviant coping mechanisms. An emerging trend within GST is the identification of previously untapped sources of strain (e.g. victimization, discrimination) that ostensibly have deviancegenerating properties. Concerning the latter trend, recent empirical iterations of GST have also introduced internal (e.g. self-esteem) and external conditioning factors (e.g. social control) that have been found to exert a mediating effect on the relationship between strain-generated negative emotions and deviant coping responses. Jang and Johnson-in a recent series of studies (2003, 2005)-offered a crucial extension to the General Strain Theory (GST) literature by finding that religiosity at least partially moderates the deviance-generating effects of strain-induced negative affect among a sample of African Americans. The current study offers a key extension to the Jang and Johnson thesis by offering the most comprehensive examination of the central tenets of their research to a nationally-representative, longitudinal sample of adolescents. Results from Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health reveal support for GST in general, and qualified support for the Jang/Johnson thesis in particular. Strain was found to be a significant, positive predictor of depression and anger. With regard to the fundamental hypothesis of the current research, partial support was garnered for the Jang and Johnson hypothesis. In particular, religiosity only offered direct protective effects when predicting drug use, and failed to condition the relationship of strain on deviance across any of the deviance measures. Consequently, religiosity failed to moderate the effects of strain on deviant coping strategies among the full sample, although significant conditioning effects were observed for female deviance. Consequently, these results largely attribute the Jang and Johnson findings to elevated levels of religiosity in their sample.

<p> This dissertation is composed of three essays that employ a social constructionist perspective to critically examine the way in which sociologists, criminologists and laypeople alike construct their subjects of study. Specifically, each essay examines how claimsmakers establish the "facts of the matter" and construct the frames within which social actors can experience their social realities. In doing so, the essays demonstrate that those who are engaged in analyzing and addressing social problems, crime and deviance act as claims makers engaged in constructing the realities they study.</p> <p> The first of the essays examines the way in which sociologists and criminologists construct deviance and crime through the popular concept of "techniques of neutralization." The author demonstrates how the neutralization concept requires analysts to frame the speech of their subjects in a way that reinforces the deviant label. In doing so, analysts' claims about neutralizing behavior are made sensible.</p> <p> The second essay focuses on a subculture of male pickup artists. It examines how members of the subculture use evolutionary psychology in their claims about how to attract and seduce women. How these men construct their reality using evolutionary science provides further insights into the processes by which people are constructed and how science is employed in the construction of social problems.</p> <p>The third essay offers a commentary on the social constructionist approach itself. The author considers the process by which social constructionists themselves define constructionist theories and construct the boundaries of what constitutes legitimate constructionist research.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Researchers have long studied the precursors to the reporting of deviant workplace acts. Previous research has often relied on descriptive studies utilizing survey research and/or simplistic models with one or two narrowly defined antecedents and demographic proxy variables. Results of these studies have resulted in inconsistent and even conflicting findings. The current study aimed to examine the causal antecedents of deviant act reporting in a more holistic way. Policy capturing was utilized to study intentions to report workplace deviant acts. Policy capturing is an idiographic approach where scenarios are used to establish the differential weighting of cues in judgment formation or behavioral intentions. Three causal antecedents were investigated. The locus of aggression and seriousness of the offense antecedents were based on the Robinson and Bennett (1995) typology of deviant acts. The third antecedent was the manipulation of the workplace offender (e.g., supervisor or peer). Subfacets of the Big Five characteristics previously found to be correlated with deviant behaviors were chosen for inclusion. Participants were educators or administrators in higher education and were asked to rate how likely they would be to report a deviant incident via two different reporting options (e.g., internal vs. external). Each participant completed several demographic items, three subfacet personality inventories, and 32 hypothetical scenarios. Hierarchical linear model was utilized for the analyses. Results showed support for the hypotheses predicting that the three situational cues would affect intentions to report. For the internal model, the three situational cues and two-way interactions accounted for a 48.2% reduction in error variance; a 52.3% reduction for the external model. The minor/serious situational cue had the highest relative cue weight for both reporting avenues. Personality variables had little effect on reporting intentions. The only significant result was found in the internal model where more cooperative individuals were more likely to report an infraction. This study serves as a baseline for future research on deviant act reporting. By utilizing the Robinson and Bennett (1995) typology, this research took an innovative approach to examining the reporting of acts within a classification system as opposed to previous studies which only examined specific behaviors. / Doctor of Philosophy / The interest in understanding deviant act reporting stems from the fact that deviant incidents are high, there are negative effects on other employees, and organizations can incur substantial financial ramifications. However, these acts are often not reported by other employees and, subsequently, behaviors are never addressed or rectified. Research in the area of reporting deviant acts has been inconsistent and has often lead to contradictory findings. The current study examined workplace deviant act reporting more holistically. A technique called policy capturing was utilized to determine which aspects of deviant acts are most likely to impact reporting intentions. Three aspects of the deviant act were examined. The locus of aggression (interpersonally directed vs. organizationally directed) and seriousness of the offense (minor vs. serious) were based on a typology of deviance developed by Robinson and Bennett (1995). The third aspect of the deviant act to be examined was the manipulation of the offender (supervisor of the witness or a peer of the witness). In addition, the impact of three personality aspects (cooperation, dutifulness and assertiveness) were examined. Participants were educators or administrators in higher education and the scenarios were based on potential scenarios applicable to this setting. Participants were asked to rate the likelihood they would report the deviant act either internally or externally. Results showed that all three aspects of the deviant act played a role in reporting intentions via both reporting channels. By far, the seriousness of the offense was the most important aspects in individuals' decision to report. Personality variables had little effect on reporting intentions with cooperative individuals being more likely to report an infraction through internal channels. This study serves as a baseline for future research on workplace deviant act reporting.

This research examined the effect of social class on the relationship between abusive supervision and workplace deviance. Within the social class literature we found conflicting theoretical arguments regarding the effect that social class would have on responses to abuse. To address this discordance we examined the effect of social class on responses to abusive supervision in four samples using multiple methods. Results confirmed that social class moderates the association between abusive supervision and workplace deviance. Specifically, the effect of abusive supervision on workplace deviance was stronger for higher social classes. In our laboratory research, the use of an abusive supervision prime and a subjective social class manipulation provided preliminary evidence for this effect. Our multi-wave field research provided evidence that these findings extend to actual employee behavior (i.e., interpersonal and organizational deviance). Implications for the abusive supervision literature are discussed.

This research examined the effect of social class on the relationship between abusive supervision and workplace deviance. Within the social class literature we found conflicting theoretical arguments regarding the effect that social class would have on responses to abuse. To address this discordance we examined the effect of social class on responses to abusive supervision in four samples using multiple methods. Results confirmed that social class moderates the association between abusive supervision and workplace deviance. Specifically, the effect of abusive supervision on workplace deviance was stronger for higher social classes. In our laboratory research, the use of an abusive supervision prime and a subjective social class manipulation provided preliminary evidence for this effect. Our multi-wave field research provided evidence that these findings extend to actual employee behavior (i.e., interpersonal and organizational deviance). Implications for the abusive supervision literature are discussed.

À Montrimond certains jeunes sont connus pour squatter les halls et les places publiques. Ce sont les « mecs de cité ». Dans cette banlieue parisienne, ces jeunes résident dans les deux « quartiers sensibles », le Belvédère et le Val. Fruit d’une enquête ethnographique conduite au sein de la famille Aïth Ali pendant plus de six ans, cette thèse décrit l’expérience de cette affiliation juvénile depuis la perspective des jeunes, à hauteur de ce qui suscite leurs passions et leurs haines. Qu’est-ce que signifie au quotidien d’« être un mec de cité » ? Quelles pratiques soutiennent ce sentiment d’appartenance ? Quels liens font tenir cette collectivité juvénile de pied d’immeuble ? Une partie liminaire examine sur le plan historique l’émergence de ces « quartiers sensibles ». Elle montre les raisons pour lesquelles certains jeunes incarnent au tournant des années 1960 et 1970 une angoisse sociale particulière : la disparition du « vieux Montrimond ». Face à ces nouveaux venus perçus comme des outsiders, les Montriots des « origines » se sentent menacés. En creux, les jeunes de cités deviennent alors responsables de ce monde qui s’en va. Face à cette légende des origines, les jeunes de cité se taillent un autre récit de fondation pour inscrire leur biographie dans cette histoire urbaine. Être un « mec de cité » c’est s’identifier à un ordre temporel grâce auquel chacun trouve sa place, celle d’« ancien », de « grand » ou de « petit ». Cet ordre générationnel fournit un cadre narratif sur lequel s’appuyer pour donner du sens à sa vie. On peut alors dire qu’on est un « mec » d’ici, du « quartier » ou de la « cité ». Puis, l’enquête décrit les réseaux d’amitié au sein desquels prennent forme ces rassemblements de jeunes. Elle suit plusieurs fratries depuis leur prime enfance, leur passage des bacs à sable à l’école primaire et secondaire, et en parallèle, les institutions municipales de délégation éducative, comme les MJC, les clubs de sport et les centres de loisirs. Une société juvénile, avec ses propres standards moraux, se développe dans les réseaux de relations qui lient ces trajectoires de socialisation. Véritable pierre de touche sur laquelle s’échafaude tout un univers éthique, cet entre-soi juvénile s’organise autour de trois figures relationnelles : l’ami, le complice et l’ennemi. Une question se pose alors : qu’advient-il de la moralité ordinaire qui lie ces amis d’enfance quand ils deviennent complices dans la délinquance ou le crime (deal de stupéfiants, vols, braquages, etc.) ? La hantise de la déloyauté, de l’arnaque et de la délation sape le ressort sur lequel reposait la certitude de la bonne foi d’autrui, sa sincérité. Ce contexte de vulnérabilité affective et éthique place les complices dans un cercle vicieux où les intentions de leurs proches souffrent d’une double lecture. Face à l’indétermination du futur, l’angoisse de la trahison poussera les plus déterminés à anticiper les mauvais coups et à céder à la violence. L’enquête sondera alors les ressorts psychosociologiques du passage à l’acte ainsi que les conditions d’exercice du jugement moral face à la violence. / At the bottom of housing projects in Montrimond, young men gather in building entrances and public places. In this small city located in the ring of suburbs, next to Paris, a few adolescents and young adults see themselves as the “guys from the hood”. The “guys from the Belvedere” and the “guys from the Val” wander around in the so-called “sensitive neighborhoods” the city hall has labeled as such. This thesis shed light upon the lived experience and the meanings of this juvenile affiliation. What does that mean to “be a guy from the hood” on a daily basis? On which everyday activities this affiliation relies on? How some boys come to be morally bound together? Initially, the thesis investigates the historical and ecological aspects in the genesis of the so-called “sensitive neighborhoods.” It shows how youth came to embody a social phobia that yields the residents to see them as outsiders. Then, this social fear is related to the narrative of foundation youth tells their own origin. Through the order of generation upon which they tell the history of their “hood”, anyone can be assigned to a place of either an “ancestor,” an “elder” or a “young.” Here we describe the networks of friendships that shape those generational gatherings. In the interstices of educational institutions of the city, like family, school and youth center, those “guys” cultivate an esprit de corps with its own moral standards. This esprit de corps is the touchstone upon which they give rise to a moral world that revolves around three ethical figures: the friend, the partner in crime (accomplice) and the enemy. Finally, the thesis unfolds the psychosociological dynamics entailed in the metamorphosis of commitment friends are engaged in while becoming deviant (drug dealing, robbery, stick-ups, etc.). In the context of deviant careers, friends cannot believe anymore in the sincerity of their alter ego. Facing the possibility of disloyalty, scam and snitch, they start doubting the honesty that was at the core of their mutual respect. In this distrust process, the ethical and emotional vulnerability undermines the faith in the future, engaging each other in a vicious circle of predicting the betrayal of the old friend. Some would go as far as killing a would-be enemy, others would be cruel in retaliation when certain would withdraw from violence to save their sense of humanity.

Although schizophrenia is a biologically-based disorder, environmental stress (including stress within familial relationships) plays a major role in the onset and maintenance of symptoms. This study examined family variables that have implications for psychotherapeutic treatment of schizophrenia. Previous research has found Communication Deviance (CD), Expressed Emotion (EE), and family cohesion (FC) to be related to symptom severity. However, the exact nature of the relationship between these constructs is unclear. The current study tested a model whereby the tone and content of family member’s communication (EE) and the sense of family unity (FC) are hypothesized to mediate the relationship between CD and psychiatric symptoms. This model stems from the theory that high CD is likely to be experienced as frustrating because it hinders relatives’ communication goals. Thus, relatives may resort to more critical and hostile methods of expressing their thoughts (High EE). Simultaneously, inability to share experiences in a clear manner may lead patients and family members to feel more disconnected (low FC). High EE and low FC in turn were hypothesized to lead to increased symptoms. This study did not find support for the above model. Communication Deviance was not related to severity of psychiatric symptoms, and Expressed Emotion and family cohesion were also unrelated to communication deviance and psychiatric symptoms in the larger model. Higher family cohesion was related to fewer psychiatric symptoms when looking at individual correlations, but this relationship disappeared once other variables were included in analyses. The largely null study findings may be due to limited variance in many of our primary study variables (e.g., CD, family cohesion). Other explanations are also entertained.