ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SELF-IMAGE AND THE PERCEIVED PARENT IMAGE FOR THE PROBLEM OF DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 55431
• Journal: ARCHIV FUER PSYCHOLOGIE Volume: 127 Dated: (1975) Pages: 116-130
• Author(s): H M TRAUTNER; B SCHUSTER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

THE INFLUENCE OF SELF-IMAGE, PERCEIVED PARENTAL IMAGE, AND SOCIAL CLASS ON DELINQUENCY IS INVESTIGATED IN A WEST GERMANY STUDY TO FACILITATE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION.

Abstract

THE SAMPLE CONSISTS OF 141 MALE JUVENILES BETWEEN 15 AND 19 YEARS OLD (97 NONDELINQUENTS AND 44 DELINQUENTS). SOCIAL STATUS IS DETERMINED WITH A STATUS INDEX ACCORDING TO THE FATHER'S PROFESSION AND THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF BOTH PARENTS. SELF-ESTEEM AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF PARENTS ARE MEASURED THROUGH SUBJECTS' RESPONSES TO LISTS OF CHARACTERISTICS. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE SELF-IMAGE IS THE SAME FOR DELINQUENTS AND NONDELINQUENTS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, BUT THAT CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS, DELINQUENTS OF THE LOWER CLASS HAVE A MORE POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE THAN NONDELINQUENTS OF THE SAME CLASS. THE PERCEIVED PARENT IMAGE IS THE SAME FOR DELINQUENTS AND NONDELINQUENTS OF A COMPARABLE CLASS. FURTHERMORE, NO DIFFERENCE EXISTS BETWEEN DELINQUENTS OF THE MIDDLE AND THOSE OF THE LOWER CLASS, WHILE NONDELINQUENTS OF THE LOWER CLASS HAVE A LESS POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE THAN THOSE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS. FINALLY, BOTH DELINQUENT AND NONDELINQUENT JUVENILES OF THE LOWER CLASS DESCRIBE THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS LESS POSITIVELY THAN COMPARABLE MIDDLE CLASS INDIVIDUALS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT NEITHER A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE OR HIGH ESTEEM FOR PARENTS PERMIT DELINQUENCY PREDICTION. THE POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE OF DELINQUENTS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR DESIRE TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION, TO THEIR IDENTIFICATION WITH A DIFFERENT REFERENCE GROUP FROM THAT OF THE NONDELINQUENTS, OR TO THEIR ATTEMPTS TO OVERCOME GUILT FEELINGS. THE LOW SELF-ESTEEM OF NONDELINQUENTS IN THE LOWER CLASS MAY ACTUALLY HAVE A PROTECTIVE FUNCTION WHICH KEEPS THE INDIVIDUALS FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. THE STUDY SHOWS THAT WIDE VARIATION IN CRITERIA FOR MEASURING SELF-IMAGE PRESENT AN ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM AND THAT RESEARCH CAN JUST AS SUCCESSFULLY CONCENTRATE ON VARIABLES WHICH REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AS ON FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DELINQUENCY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND TABLES ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)