FRONTAL LOBE SYSTEM MATURATION LAG IN JUVENILE DELINQUENTS SHOWN IN NARRATIVES TEST

• NCJ Number: 57906
• Journal: Adolescence Volume: 11 Issue: 44 Dated: (WINTER 1976) Pages: 509-518
• Author(s): A A PONTIUS; K F RUTTIGER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Libra Publishers, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A CLINICAL TEST OF FRONTAL LOBE SYSTEM (FLS) MATURITY LEVELS IS USED TO DIFFERENTIATE AMONG NORMAL CHILDREN, JUVENILE DELIQUENTS, AND CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.

Abstract

THE FLS MEDIATES THE FORM OF ACTION PATTERNS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MATURE INTERACTION WITH OTHERS. THESE PATTERNS INCLUDE THE PLANNING OF ACTION AND THE ABILITY TO SWITCH PRINCIPLES OF ACTION APPROPRIATELY DURING AN ONGOING ACTIVITY, AS NEW SITUATIONS AND DEMANDS ARISE. IMMATURITY OF ACTION PATTERNS IS NORMAL IN SMALL CHILDREN AND HAS BEEN FOUND IN SOME TYPES OF MINIMAL BRAIN DYSFUNCTION AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. FORM ANALYSIS OF ACTION AS EXPRESSED IN THE NARRATIVES OF CHILDREN AGED 9 TO 16 WAS USED TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT SUCH ANALYSIS CAN IDENTIFY FLS IMMATURITY PERSISTING BEYOND CHILDHOOD INTO ADOLENSCENCE. THE NARRATIVES WERE MADE UP BY 132 AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS: NORMAL (AS JUDGED BY THEIR TEACHERS); DELINQUENT (KNOWN TO HAVE COMMITTED INDICTABLE ACTS); AND THOSE HAVING EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS (HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE OR NEUROTIC BEHAVIOR, DISTURBED FAMILY SITUATION). THE CHILDREN'S STORIES WERE RATED ACCORDING TO THE STAGE OF FLS MATURATION THEY REFLECTED: DISJOINTEDNESS OF ACTIVITY (STAGE 1); INABILITY TO SWITCH PRINCIPLES OF ACTION ACTION APPROPRIATELY (STAGE 2); RECOGNITION THAT PLANNING IS HELPFUL AND THAT LACK OF PLANNING IS HARMFUL (STAGE 3); AND ABILITY TO SWITCH PRINCIPLES OF ACTION APPROPRIATELY (STAGE 4). IT WAS FOUND THAT 70 PERCENT OF THE NORMAL SUBJECTS HAD ACHIEVED STAGE 4, COMPARED TO 47 PERCENT OF THE DELINQUENTS, AND 59 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT REMEDIAL EFFORTS FOR DELINQUENTS WITH FLS MATURATIONAL LAG SHOULD FOCUS ON EXERCISES IN FLS FUNCTIONING (READING, LISTENING, TELLING STORIES). SUPPORTING DATA, A LIST OF REFERENCES, AND EXAMPLES OF NARRATIVES REFLECTING EACH STAGE OF FLS MATURATION ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)