NCJ Number
78632
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The attitudes of delinquent and nondelinquent girls toward the future, delay of rewards, and risk-taking are compared to ascertain whether these variables have any bearing on delinquency.
Abstract
The sample consists of 45 female delinquents between 18 and 25 years old convicted of property offenses. Measurements are made with a 46-item questionnaire constructed especially for the study. Study results indicate that delinquents have a more negative attitude toward the future than nondelinquents, that delinquents expect negative events to occur earlier than do nondelinquents, and that delinquents believe their future to be affected more by external events and less by their own actions. Delinquents and nondelinquents do not differ in their attitudes toward postponing rewards and toward risk-taking. The findings do not support the widely held view in literature that delinquents have a little developed but unrealistically phantasized view of the future. Institutionalized delinquents are more likely than nondelinquents to feel apprehensive about post-release problems such as finding a job, having an adequate income, and paying back debts. This is not surprising considering the real problems to be faced by releasees in the near future. The negative attitude of delinquent toward outside forces suggests that the delinquents have experienced a series of failures and view their environments as hostile. Notes, a bibliography of about 40 references, and tables are supplied.