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WHEN DELINQUENCY IS DEFENSIVE - SELF ESTEEM IN DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

NCJ Number
68563
Author(s)
D W MANN
Date Published
1976
Length
115 pages
Annotation
THE PROPOSITION THAT SOME ADOLESCENT BOYS USE JUVENILE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AS A DEFENSE AGAINST A DENIGRATED SELF-CONCEPT WAS TESTED IN AN INTERVIEW STUDY OF 720 ADOLESCENT MALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 11 TO 18.
Abstract
THE MODEL USED PROPOSED THAT (1) HIGHLY DELINQUENT BOYS WILL BE CHARACTERIZED BY A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS LEVELS OF SELF-ESTEEM, EVIDENCE OF INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL, AND REJECTION OF SCHOOL AS A VALUED INSTITUTION; AND (2) DELINQUENT BOYS ARE DISTINGUISHED FROM NONDELINQUENT BOYS LACKING SELF-ESTEEM BY THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD SCHOOL AND PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL. THE PRESENT STUDY USED A REPRESENTATIVE NATIONAL SAMPLE OF AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS. SIX HYPOTHESES RELATING TO PREDICTIONS OF DELINQUENCY AND ANXIETY WERE TESTED. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE NATURE OF DELINQUENCY SEEMS TO VARY DEVELOPMENTALLY. THE THEORETICAL MODEL ACCURATELY CHARACTERIZED DELINQUENCY AMONG BOYS IN THE SECOND HALF OF ADOLESCENCE. FOR YOUNGER BOYS, DELINQUENCY APPEARED TO REPRESENT THE ACTING OUT OF ANGER AND POOR ADJUSTMENT. ANXIETY LEVELS WERE NOT CLEARLY RELATED TO DELINQUENCY LEVELS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT DELINQUENCY HAS MANY CAUSES AND THAT SELF-ESTEEM VARIABLES ARE IMPORTANT IN EXPLAINING BEHAVIOR. FURTHER RESEARCH TO TEST THE PRESENT MODEL AND TO EXPLAIN THE ECOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE IS RECOMMENDED. TABLES, FIGURES, AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND APPENDIX TABLES PRESENTING SCALES USED FOR RATING SELF-ESTEEM AND ALIENATION ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)