NCJ Number
146270
Journal
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry Volume: 31 Dated: (October 1961) Pages: 703-712
Date Published
1961
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This is a preliminary psychiatric report on a study of juvenile delinquency in the Sociology Department of the Institute for Juvenile Research.
Abstract
The subjects of the clinical study were 16 boys who were members of a street corner gang, moderately delinquent in character, residing in an ethnic working-class neighborhood. The paper is divided into four parts: (1) the setting in which the study took place; (2) the nature of the collaboration between the field worker and the psychiatrist; (3) summary of the psychiatric findings, especially as they appear relevant to delinquency; and (4) implications for the relationship of delinquent behavior to personality and for the relationship between psychiatric and sociological factors in the unfolding of delinquency. Among many areas deserving further study are: precipitating factors for a given outburst of delinquent activity in an individual or gang, and group dynamics of the delinquent gang. Finally, sociology and psychiatry may study delinquency independently. The practitioner needs to know both the sociology of the community and gang and the psychology of his subjects. 10 references