Teacher disapproval,delinquent peers,and self-reported delinquency: A longitudinal test of labeling theory

Data from the National Youth Survey (waves one and two) were used to assess the effects of individual students' perceptions of teacher disapproval on self-reported delinquency. The panel study included youths between the ages of 11 and 17. Consistent with the labeling perspective, the results indicated that perceptions of teacher disapproval are associated with subsequent delinquency. This relationship was significant even when controlling for prior delinquency, thus weakening the argument that labeling is merely a result, and not a cause, of delinquency. The effects did, however, appear to be indirect when measures of delinquent peer associations were included in the model.