Social Identity, Identity Formation, and Delinquency

The purpose of this study has been to gain knowledge about the shaping of social identity among immigrants and the effect of that identity on delinquent behavior. The data are based on a longitudinal study conducted in Israel on 773 immigrant youths from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) who participated in the study for three years. Results from logistic regressions suggest that different models can explain different strategies of identity formation. Regarding delinquent behavior, the assimilation strategy of identity change increases the likelihood of delinquent behavior, but the impact of the assimilation is challenged by the effect of the proportion of the immigrants' Israeli friends. The discussion introduces the concept of subjective and objective assimilation as a possible explanation for the contradictory findings.