NCJ Number
163153
Journal
Bulletin of the Criminological Research Department Dated: (1995) Pages: 13-15
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Juvenile delinquents in Japan were studied with respect to their interpersonal behavior, consciousness about their own lives, and their problem behaviors.
Abstract
The analysis focused on 883 male juvenile delinquents admitted to juvenile classification homes and 797 nondelinquent students in 22 junior and senior high schools. The participants completed anonymous questionnaires. Results revealed that the delinquents were more likely than the nondelinquents to consider it impossible to achieve many life goals, although they acknowledged the importance of such goals. The main effects of delinquent tendency occurred in items concerning self-image, while the main effects of asocial disposition occurred in items concerning the importance of life goals and the possibility of achieving them. The interaction between delinquent tendency and asocial disposition occurred mostly in items concerning self-image. The most negative self-image was held by the asocial type of the nondelinquent group, and the most positive self-image was held by the other type of delinquents. However, the asocial juvenile delinquents were in the middle between these two groups and could not be clearly distinguished from the other type of nondelinquent group.