Final answer:
The Gluecks' research pointed to the social environment, including neighborhood factors, family disruption, and parental criminal behavior, as key contributors to delinquency, rather than intrinsic personal characteristics. Social disorganization and the strength of social bonds also significantly influence the likelihood of deviant behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gluecks' longitudinal research concluded that delinquency is influenced by an interaction between constitutional factors and family environments. Specifically, the key contributors to delinquency identified by the research are not directly age and gender, intelligence and school environments, or heredity and peer socialization. Rather, it was the cultural ecology or social environment of the neighborhood, including factors such as poverty, family disruption, and social disorganization, that were associated with high rates of crime and delinquency. Additionally, parental criminal behavior was seen as a significant predictor of antisocial and criminal behavior in children. Control theory also plays a role in understanding delinquency, suggesting that the strength of social bonds and connection to society may prevent deviant behavior.
From a broad perspective, social factors such as a family's socioeconomic status, quality of education, and stability in living environments play critical roles in influencing behavior. Not directly mentioned in the Gluecks' research but relevant to understanding delinquency are the concepts of social disorganization theory, control theory, and the effect of socioeconomic factors as highlighted by various scholars.