Edwards, Willie J.2009-05-192009-05-191993-01-01Mid-American Review of Sociology, Volume 17, Number 1 (WINTER, 1993), pp. 31-43 http://dx.doi.org/10.17161/STR.1808.5095https://hdl.handle.net/1808/5095The present study posuions constructs of five popular criminological/sociological theories into an integrated or multiple theory model to investigate the causation of delinquency. The model was testedon a sample(N=532) of males and females who were being detained in a county juvenile facility. The theories of differential association and anomie contributed the most to the model while social control and self-esteem theories contributed the least, leaving the labeling theory to contribute a moderate portion to the explanation of delinquency. The model indicated that the more anomie youths and those experiencing less social control were more likely to associate I with delinquent peers resulting in higher labeling and lower self-esteem. A comprehensive model of delinquency is better structured to depict the sequential and progressive attraction toward delinquent involvement than single theory models.enCopyright (c) Social Thought and Research. For rights questions please contact Editor, Department of Sociology, Social Thought and Research, Fraser Hall, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045.Article10.17161/STR.1808.5095openAccess