NCJ Number
52382
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPOLOGY OF DELINQUENCY, REPRESENTING A COMPOSITE OF SEVERAL INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS, IS PRESENTED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S FUNCTIONS RELATIVE TO EACH TYPE OF DELINQUENT.
Abstract
THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES OF DELINQUENTS ARE DEFINED: (1) THOSE SUFFERING FROM NEUROLOGICAL AND LEARNING DEFICITS (THE HYPERKINETIC REACTION, RESEMBLING THE BEHAVIOR SEEN IN CHILDREN WITH MINIMAL BRAIN DAMAGE); (2) THOSE SUFFERING FROM SOCIAL DEFICITS AND WITHDRAWAL (A REACTION TO THERE BEING TOO LITTLE SATISFACTION IN A CHILD'S REAL LIFE, PERHAPS DUE TO INADEQUATE PARENTS WHO ARE DETACHED, OVERLY PERMISSIVE IN BEHAVIOR, AND YET PUNITIVE IN ATTITUDE); (3) THE NEUROTIC DELINQUENT (THE OVERANXIOUS REACTION MOST COMMONLY FOUND IN MIDDLE-CLASS, EDUCATIONALLY AMBITIOUS FAMILIES IN WHICH CHILDREN ARE HELD TO HIGH STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR AND ACHIEVEMENT AND MAY COME TO FEEL THAT THEIR ACCEPTANCE IN THE FAMILY IS DEPENDENT UPON MAINTAINING THESE STANDARDS; (4) THE UNSOCIALIZED AGGRESSIVE DELINQUENT (OFTEN A REACTION TO PARENTAL REJECTION COUPLED WITH SOME PARENTAL OVERPROTECTION); (5) THE RUNAWAY (A REACTION TO SIMPLE, UNDILUTED PARENTAL REJECTION); AND (6) THE DELINQUENT GANG MEMBER (A REACTION RESULTING FROM GROUP REBELLION IN THE ADOLESCENT YEARS IN THE ABSENCE OF PARENTAL, PARTICULARLY PATERNAL, SUPERVISION). THE WAYS IN WHICH EACH TYPE OF BEHAVIOR MANIFESTS ITSELF IN A DELINQUENT POPULATION ARE DESCRIBED, AND THE RANGE AND AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR EACH TYPE ARE INDICATED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE MAJOR EVENT IN THE TRANSITION FROM JUVENILE TO ADULT STATUS IS THE CHOICE OF LIFE STYLE ATTENDANT UPON EMPLOYMENT. ALL THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO TREAT, GUIDE, SHAPE, OR COUNSEL YOUNG OFFENDERS HOPE TO DEVELOP THE ATTITUDES, MOTIVATIONS, AND SKILLS THAT WILL ENABLE THE YOUTHS TO BECOME ADULTS CAPABLE OF SELF-SUPPORT THROUGH LEGAL OCCUPATION. WHETHER THAT END IS ACCOMPLISHED ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF JOBS. THOSE WHO WORK WITH DELINQUENTS CAN USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT FOR THEM. HOWEVER, IF TOTAL UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY REMAINS STABLE, THE CONSEQUENCE OF SUCH EFFORTS WILL BE THAT A JOB IS DENIED TO SOME OTHER YOUTH OR TO SOME ADULT, WHOSE CHILDREN ARE THEREBY ADDED TO THE RANKS OF THE DEPRIVED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)