NCJ Number
69705
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: (July 1980) Pages: 107-109
Date Published
1980
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The relationship between self-concept and type of crime committed by black juveniles against other blacks was examined in this study.
Abstract
A common explanation of delinquency is that delinquents lack a positive self-concept, and that such individuals tend to compensate for their social inadequacy by resorting to antisocial behavior. The study predicted that blacks who commit crimes against property would have higher global and black self-concepts than blacks who commit crimes against persons, and that the level of black self-concept would be more important than global self-concept in explaining differences. The sample consisted of 30 lower-class, black male youths between 15 and 18 years old, who were detained in a city jail. Half of these were suspected of committing a crime involving the property of another black, and half were suspects for committing a crime involving the physical injury of another black. All participants had at least one previous conviction for a similar form of the crime for which they were currently being detained and no known history of another type of crime. The survey instruments included (1) the Terrell and Taylor Black Ideology Scale for measuring black self-concept; (2) the Fitts Tennessee Self Concept Scale; and (3) a background history questionnaire. Data were analyzed for statistical significance. The results showed that blacks who committed crimes against property had a higher global and black self-concept than those who committed crimes against persons. The significance of black self-concept is discussed in relation to criminal offenses. Test data are included in the text, and a footnote and 22 references are provided.