
Why Children Follow Rules
Legal Socialization and the Development of Legitimacy
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 22. February 2018
Book
Hardback
280 pages
978-0-19-064414-7 (ISBN)
Description
Legal socialization is the process by which children and adolescents acquire their law related values, attitudes, and reasoning capacities. Such values and attitudes, in particular legitimacy, underlie the ability and willingness to consent to laws and defer to legal authorities that make legitimacy based legal systems possible. By age eighteen a person's orientation toward law is largely established, yet legal scholarship has largely ignored this process in favor of studying adults and their relationship to the law.
Why Children Follow Rules focuses upon legal socialization outlining what is known about the process across three related, but distinct, contexts: the family, the school, and the juvenile justice system. Throughout, Tom Tyler and Rick Trinkner emphasize the degree to which individuals develop their orientations toward law and legal authority upon values connected to responsibility and obligation as opposed to fear of punishment. They argue that authorities can act in ways that internalize legal values and promote supportive attitudes. In particular, consensual legal authority is linked to three issues: how authorities make decisions, how they treat people, and whether they recognize the boundaries of their authority. When individuals experience authority that is fair, respectful, and aware of the limits of power, they are more likely to consent and follow directives.
Despite clear evidence showing the benefits of consensual authority, strong pressures and popular support for the exercise of authority based on dominance and force persist in America's families, schools, and within the juvenile justice system. As the currently low levels of public trust and confidence in the police, the courts, and the law undermine the effectiveness of our legal system, Tom Tyler and Rick Trinkner point to alternative way to foster the popular legitimacy of the law in an era of mistrust.
Why Children Follow Rules focuses upon legal socialization outlining what is known about the process across three related, but distinct, contexts: the family, the school, and the juvenile justice system. Throughout, Tom Tyler and Rick Trinkner emphasize the degree to which individuals develop their orientations toward law and legal authority upon values connected to responsibility and obligation as opposed to fear of punishment. They argue that authorities can act in ways that internalize legal values and promote supportive attitudes. In particular, consensual legal authority is linked to three issues: how authorities make decisions, how they treat people, and whether they recognize the boundaries of their authority. When individuals experience authority that is fair, respectful, and aware of the limits of power, they are more likely to consent and follow directives.
Despite clear evidence showing the benefits of consensual authority, strong pressures and popular support for the exercise of authority based on dominance and force persist in America's families, schools, and within the juvenile justice system. As the currently low levels of public trust and confidence in the police, the courts, and the law undermine the effectiveness of our legal system, Tom Tyler and Rick Trinkner point to alternative way to foster the popular legitimacy of the law in an era of mistrust.
Reviews / Votes
...an easy read and a fascinating introduction to the topic of socialization in the law. * CHOICE * The volume is...written for and in the style of academics, who will find much of value in its extensive review of theory, empirical research, and reliance on scholarly references. * James R. Acker, Distinguished Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany, Social Forces *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
584 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-064414-7 (9780190644147)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Tom R. Tyler | Rick Trinkner
Why Children Follow Rules
Legal Socialization and the Development of Legitimacy
Book
06/2020
Oxford University Press Inc
€48.00
Shipment within 15-20 days

Tom R. Tyler | Rick Trinkner
Why Children Follow Rules
Legal Socialization and the Development of Legitimacy
E-Book
12/2017
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€19.99
Available for download

Tom R. Tyler | Rick Trinkner
Why Children Follow Rules
Legal Socialization and the Development of Legitimacy
E-Book
12/2017
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€19.99
Available for download
Persons
Tom R. Tyler is the Macklin Fleming Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology at Yale University.
Rick Trinkner is Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University.
Rick Trinkner is Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University.
Author
Macklin Fleming Professor of Law and Professor of PsychologyMacklin Fleming Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology, Yale University
Assistant Professor, School of Criminology and Criminal JusticeAssistant Professor, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University
Content
Acknowledgements
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Legal Socialization and the Elements of Legitimacy
Chapter 2: General Approaches to Legal Socialization
Chapter 3: Legal Socialization across the Life Course
Part II: Models of Legal Socialization
Chapter 4: Developing Values and Attitudes about the Law
Chapter 5: The Development of Legal Reasoning
Chapter 6: Neurological Development and Legal Competency
Part III: Legal Socialization across the Spheres of Childhood and Adolescence
Chapter 7: Legal Socialization in the Family
Chapter 8: Legal Socialization in the School
Chapter 9: Legal Socialization in the Juvenile Justice System
Part IV: Conclusions & Final Thoughts
Notes
References
Index
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Legal Socialization and the Elements of Legitimacy
Chapter 2: General Approaches to Legal Socialization
Chapter 3: Legal Socialization across the Life Course
Part II: Models of Legal Socialization
Chapter 4: Developing Values and Attitudes about the Law
Chapter 5: The Development of Legal Reasoning
Chapter 6: Neurological Development and Legal Competency
Part III: Legal Socialization across the Spheres of Childhood and Adolescence
Chapter 7: Legal Socialization in the Family
Chapter 8: Legal Socialization in the School
Chapter 9: Legal Socialization in the Juvenile Justice System
Part IV: Conclusions & Final Thoughts
Notes
References
Index