To account for the malicious and non-utilitarian character of much delinque
nt behavior, many theorists interpret delinquency as a symbolic statement o
f personal independence. In particular, they argue that delinquency represe
nts a functional device or maneuver that enables youths to maintain a sense
of personal control in the face of adult constraints and impositions. This
study presents an empirical evaluation of this claim based on analyses of
longitudinal data from a national survey of male adolescents. The findings
are largely consistent with the "control-maintenance" argument. Data indica
te that male adolescents tend to respond to adult constraints with a dimini
shed sense of personal control (or fatalism). Delinquent involvement, howev
er, negates the effect of such constraints. Implications for criminological
theory, delinquency control, and future research are discussed.