NCJ Number
57016
Journal
British Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 120 Issue: 558 Dated: (MAY 1972) Pages: 549-550
Date Published
1972
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE HEIGHTS OF 1,084 JUVENILE DELINQUENT MALES WERE MEASURED AND THEIR CHROMOSOMES CHECKED TO DETERMINE IF A RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN THE 47,XYY KARYOTYPE, HEIGHT, AND ADMISSION TO INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILES.
Abstract
BESIDES MEASURING THE SAMPLE GROUP, RESEARCHERS ALSO MEASURED THE HEIGHTS OF 100 OTHER BOYS ENTERING THE INSTITUTION. THE HEIGHTS OF THE 1,084 BOYS WERE STATISTICALLY DIFFERENT THAN EXPECTED; THERE WAS A HIGHER REPRESENTATION OF SHORTER BOYS (LESS THAN THE 3RD PERCENTILE) AND MEDIUM-HEIGHT BOYS (BETWEEN THE 3RD AND 10TH PERCENTILE). THE HEIGHT DISTRIBUTION OF THE 100 CONTROLS WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE SAMPLE. THE CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES WERE ONE CASE EACH OF 47,XYY AND 47,XXY/46,XY MOSAIC. THE HEIGHT OF THE FORMER BOY WAS ABOVE THE 90TH PERCENTILE; THAT OF THE LATTER WAS BETWEEN THE 50TH AND 75TH PERCENTILE. THE STUDY DOES NOT SUPPORT THE SUGGESTION THAT TALLNESS INFLUENCES ADMISSION TO INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. (HUNTER, WRITING ON ADULT OFFENDERS, INDICATED THAT JUDGES WERE MORE LIKELY TO INSTITUTIONALIZE TALL OFFENDERS THAN SHORTER OFFENDERS BECAUSE OF THEIR THREATENING APPEARANCE.) IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE NUMBER OF VARIABLES PRESENT IN SOCIETY REGARDING INVOLVEMENT IN ANTISOCIAL ACTS AND THE DETECTION, PROSECUTION, AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF OFFENDERS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO COMMENT DIRECTLY ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF HEIGHT TO ANTISOCIAL ACTIVITIES. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)