Heritage of Endurance

Family Patterns and Delinquency Formation in Urban Japan

Hiroshi Wagatsuma, George A. De Vos

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2024
• Print ISBN: 9780520310438
• eBook ISBN: 9780520313972
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Sciences sociales
• Subtopic: Sociologie du mariage et de la famille

Heritage of Endurance: Family Patterns and Delinquency Formation in Urban Japan delves into the complex interplay of family dynamics, cultural traditions, and societal influences in shaping delinquent behavior among urban youth in Japan. Centered on Arakawa Ward in Tokyo during the 1960s, this insightful study combines psychocultural and sociological perspectives to uncover how family interactions and community structures contribute to the genesis of deviant attitudes. The research focuses on fifty families, providing detailed analyses of how specific patterns in family life influence some children toward delinquency while others remain unaffected. Rich in life-history materials, the book highlights the unique artisan and merchant traditions of Arakawa, where deeply ingrained social ideals and entrepreneurial values foster a strong sense of belonging and resilience within the community. The book goes beyond the surface to explore Japan's low delinquency rates in the broader context of its cultural continuity and social cohesion. It offers a nuanced understanding of how attitudes toward work, achievement, and technological competence are passed down through generations, creating a stabilizing effect on societal behavior. By juxtaposing Japanese and American approaches to delinquency, the authors reveal the enduring impact of Japan's "heritage of endurance, " emphasizing how community cohesiveness and family traditions act as protective factors. With its blend of in-depth analysis and cultural insight, this volume serves as an invaluable resource for understanding the intricate relationship between family, culture, and deviance in a rapidly modernizing society. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1984.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Tables
• Preface
• Introduction
• PART I The Urban Community
• CHAPTER 1 Arakawa Ward and Its Culture
• CHAPTER 2 Group Orientation in Arakawa Ward
• CHAPTER 3 Research in Arakawa Ward
• PART II Comparison of Families
• CHAPTER 4 Perspectives on Family Life and Delinquency
• CHAPTER 5 Social Status Characteristics
• CHAPTER 6 Achievement and Inadequacy
• CHAPTER 7 Attitudes toward Responsibility and Authority
• CHAPTER 8 Family Integrity versus Discord, Depreciation, and Dissatisfaction
• CHAPTER 9 Affiliation and Nurturance
• PART III Family Portraits
• CHAPTER 10 Ryūichi Segawa
• CHAPTER 11
• The Family Hope Does Well in School
• CHAPTER 12
• A “ Banchō” Reforms
• CHAPTER 13
• A Fifteen-Year-Old Rapist
• PART IV Conclusions
• CHAPTER 14 Genesis of Delinquency in Family Processes
• CHAPTER 15 Belonging and Alienation in Comparative Perspective
• APPENDIX A Comparison of Rorschach Test Results
• APPENDIX B Thematic Apperception Test
• APPENDIX C The Arakawa Cases
• Bibliography
• Index