NCJ Number
126525
Journal
Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (October 1990) Pages: 20-30
Date Published
1990
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper describes a study of behavioral problems of adjudicated male juvenile offenders using the Personal Styles Inventory (PSI) which focuses on personality traits and coping skills.
Abstract
The study population consisted of 113 juvenile offenders ranging in age from 13 to 17 years who were confined for 4.2 months in a mid-western State's Division of Youth Services for crimes against property and persons. In the study group, 52 percent were Caucasian and 48 percent black. The results of this study showed that the circumplex relationship of the emotional, physical, and cognitive interpersonal styles and personality traits found among other populations also fit this group of juvenile offenders. Offender types identified, for example the change-extroversion coping style, stability-extroversion style, and introconversion-stability style, compare favorably with structural components of other classification models. However, while existing classification typologies focus on identifying psychopathological disorders and often lead to client resistance, the PSI model provides the correctional practitioner with a valid assessment that is easy to understand and sensitive to the needs of the juvenile offenders and their families and is helpful to develop an individualized service plan. 18 references (Author abstract modified)