Traditional religious orthodoxy, respect for authority and nonconformity in adolescence

Broad generalizations regarding youth cultures must take into account the relative impact of conventional beliefs on adolescent behavior. Data obtained from 4,220 boys and girls from grades 8-12, in communities of different socioeconomic status, show that traditional religious orthodoxy and respect for authority represent viable social forces. The general assumption of a drastic decline with age in the commitment to these conventional orientations during adolescence requires some qualification. Beliefs dealing with respect for authority which lack specificity in regard to the institutional lucos of authority remain substantially unchanged with increasing age. Several traditional religious orthodox and respect for authority items either did not show a consistent decline with increasing age or showed only a slight decline. Commitment to these conventional beliefs is inversely associated with nonconforming behavior.