The primary insulator against delinquency is therefore seen as the youth's self-concept itself, while external containment factors serves as reinforcement. On the other hand, excessively negative external factors could also lead to delinquency, despite a positive self-concept in the individual.

Toby, J. (1957). Social Disorganization and stake in Conformity

Toby makes the concept of self and its influence on the likelihood of delinquency even more specific by focusing on the likelihood of the youth to be recruited successfully by gangs. According to Toby, a young person's conventional social connections and commitments is the main element in this likelihood. A lack of such connections, for example, means that the young person does not have much to lose when affiliating with gangs and becoming delinquent. On the other hand, young persons who are connected with conventional social institutions and commitments are less likely to become delinquent gang members. This is what the...
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