DEVIANT BEHAVIOR OF ADOLESCENTS - PSYCHIATRIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF RISK FACTORS

• NCJ Number: 65858
• Journal: SCHWEIZERISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT FUER SOZIOLOGIE Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 37-61
• Author(s): A UCHTENHAGEN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: Sweden

Annotation

RISK FACTORS LIKELY TO COTRIBUTE TO MENTAL ILLNESS, DRUG ABUSE, SUICIDE, OR DEVIANCE IN SWISS JUVENILES ARE DISCUSSED ON THE BASIS OF DATA FROM EMPIRICAL STUDIES.

Abstract

RECENT LITERATURE HAS ABANDONED MONOCAUSAL EXPLANATIONS OF PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR FOR EXPLANATIONS WHICH INTEGRATE VARIOUS CAUSES, CONDITIONS, AND PATTERNS IN HIGH-RISK GROUPS. BIOLOGICAL FACTORS ATTRIBUTING TO CRIMINALITY INCLUDE HEREDITARY INCLINATION TO SCHIZOPHRENIC PSYCHOSES AND ALCOHOLISM, BRAIN DAMAGE LEADING TO BEHAVIORAL DISTURBANCES, AND CHROMOSOMAL ANOMALIES. FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ARE BROKEN HOMES; THE INSTITUTIONAL REARING OF YOUNG CHILDREN; PARENTAL NEGLECT AND PATHOLOGICAL FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS; POSITION IN THE ORDER OF SIBLINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE MANY; LOWER CLASS ORIGINS; AND SOCIAL ISOLATION RESULTING FROM MINORITY GROUP STATUS. BELOW-AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE IS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC OF DELINQUENTS, WHILE YOUTHFUL DRUG ADDICTS TEND TO DISPLAY SUCH PERSONALITY TRAITS AS INSECURITY, INSTABILITY, EGOISM, AND INABILITY TO FORM PEER RELATIONSHIPS. SCHIZOPHRENIC ILLNESSES ARE MORE FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED, DOWNWARD-MOBILE INNER-CITY AREAS. THE PROGNOSIS FOR JUVENILES IS POOR WHEN A NUMBER OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS CAN BE OBSERVED: MOTHER OR FATHER MENTALLY DISTURBED OR ABSENT; LOSS OF PRIMARY CARETAKER FOR AT LEAST A YEAR; A LARGE NUMBER OF SIBLINGS; STEP-CHILD STATUS; AND SUCH CHARACTERISTICS AS MENTAL RETARDATION, IMPULSIVENESS, INTELLIGENCE DEFICIENCIES, HYPERACTIVITY, AND INSTABILITY. A SATISFACTORY FAMILY LIFE AND GRATIFYING PEER SOCIAL CONTACTS PROVIDE THE BEST PROSPECTS FOR RECOVERY FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND DELINQUENCY. FURTHER RESEARCH ON FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO A POSITIVE PROGNOSIS AND ON SUCCESS OF THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS ON RISK PATTERNS USEFUL FOR PREDICTIONS, IS RECOMMENDED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)