Self-reported delinquency and reputational orientations of high school and incarcerated adolescent loners and nonloners

The self-reported delinquency and reputational orientations of loners and nonloners were examined in two related investigations. In the first, 1328 high school students and 132 institutionalized youth were classified as either loners or nonloners. Two multivariate analyses of variance revealed no significant main effect of loner status for delinquency, but there were main effects for gender and age. For reputational orientations, there were main effects of loner status, gender, and age. Of the 113 participants identified as loners (75 male and 38 female), 98 were age and gender matched with nonloners for further investigation. Two multivariate analyses of variance with follow-up univariates revealed a main effect of delinquency for loner status, with loners reporting higher levels of involvement in physical aggression, stealing offences, and vehicle-related offences. A significant main effect of loner status was also evident for reputational orientation. Overall, the reputational orientations of loners were suggestive of individuals who wish to be nonconforming but desire this to be of a private nature, which may be why they commit delinquent activities without the presence of an audience. These findings are discussed in the light of reputation enhancement theory.