NCJ Number
85633
Journal
Journal of Humanics Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (1981) Pages: 64-71
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The social dyslexia theory, borrowed from recent research in educational psychology with dyslexic children, proposes that there are children (chronic offenders) who have not and cannot learn society's ways.
Abstract
Dyslexic children have a brain dysfunction making it impossible for them to process stimuli in the same manner as other people. Similarly, chronic youth offenders cannot process the morals and laws of society to produce socially accepted behavior. Social dyslexia involves the lack of reasoning as to why society's codes and conventions must be followed. Support for this theory can be found in analyzing homosexual behavior, which may came about because homosexuals cannot learn accepted heterosexual response patterns. If this is true, the same theory can be applied to those unable to learn to adopt society's rules. Social dyslexics can be treated in the same manner as educational psychologists treat dyslexia. Early identification of the social dyslexic would probably aid in facilitating treatment. Fourteen references are appended.