ATTRIBUTIONS, AFFECT, AND CRIME - STREET YOUTHS REACTIONS TO UNEMPLOYMENT

This research examines the role familial, school, labor market, and st reet factors play in the criminality of 200-homeless male street youth s. Of particular interest is the way these youths interpret their labo r market experiences and how together these experiences and interpreta tions influence criminal behavior. Findings reveal that familial and s chool factors have minimal influence on current criminal behavior. Ins tead, criminal behavior is influenced by such immediate factors as hom elessness, drug and alcohol use, and criminal peers who engage in ille gal activities. Further, criminal behavior is influenced by a lack of income, job experiences, and perceptions of a blocked opportunity stru cture. While labor market conditions and reactions to those conditions have some effect on crime, the findings also suggest that lengthy une mployment, job experiences, and a lack of income work in tandem with a nger and external attributions to increase street youths' criminal act ivities.