NCJ Number
45682
Journal
Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 529-538
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POSITIVE PEER CULTURE PROGRAM AT THE MISSOURI TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS IN FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGENCY AND COMMUNION IN THE LIVES OF PARTICIPANTS IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AGENCY ARE SELF-PROTECTION, SELF-ASSERTION, AND SELF-EXPANSION. COMMUNION IS A SENSE OF BEING PART OF GROUP. JUVENILE DELINQUENTS TEND TO HAVE BOTH AGENTIC PROBLEMS (E.G., POOR WORK HABITS, POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE) AND COMMUNAL PROBLEMS (E.G., POOR RELATIONS WITH PEERS, TENDENCY TO RESPOND TO ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES WITH HOSTILITY, REJECTION, OR WITHDRAWAL RATHER THAN ACCEPTANCE). THE MISSOURI TRAINING SCHOOL PROGRAM EMPHASIZES BOTH AGENTIC ACTIVITIES (PERSONAL PROBLEMSOLVING) AND COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES (PEER GROUP MEETINGS). THE PROGRAM APPEARS TO MEET THE IMPLIED NEEDS OF THE DELINQUENT AND REPRESENTS AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP AGENCY IN A COMMUNAL INVIRONMENT. THE JESNESS INVENTORY, A STANDARD TOOL FOR ASSESSING SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY AND CONFORMITY, WAS ADMINISTERED TO STUDENTS AT THE MISSOURI FACILITY. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT LONGER RESIDENCY UNDER POSITIVE PEER CULTURE -- A COMMUNAL SITUATION -- MAY INCREASE THE AGENTIC TENDENCY IN INDIVIDUALS, BUT THAT THIS TENDENCY IS MITIGATED BY COMMUNION AND IS THUS DIRECTED TOWARD USEFUL PROBLEMSOLVING AND MEANINGFUL DAILY ACTIVITY. A TABLE SHOWING THE PROPORTION OF AGENTIC AND COMMUNAL ITEMS IN THE JESNESS INVENTORY IS INCLUDED, AS IS A LIST OF REFERENCES. (LKM)