The effects of demographic environment on the legal socialization of Virginia elementary school children

Abstract

The legal socialization of elementary school children from three demographically distinct Virginia localities was investigated. The attitudes of these children toward the law and police were measured by a questionnaire administered by the classroom teachers.

The results obtained tended to reinforce the conclusions of previous socialization theorists with respect to the attitudes of young children toward the law and the police.

The attitudes of the children were found to differ as a function of their area of residence. Although this area variable influenced the socialization process, another variable, called sophistication, also seemed significant. This variable, sophistication, seemed to be directly related to the relative socio-economic status of the child, as higher socio-economic children tended to demonstrate the variable to a greater extent.

Children of greater sophistication differed from their less sophisticated peers in that they tended to demonstrate a more mature attitude toward the law and police.

It was concluded that the children's attitudes toward the law and the police were influenced by their area of residence and their relative sophistication.