NCJ Number
94567
Journal
Journal of Personality Assessment Volume: 47 Issue: 5 Dated: (1983) Pages: 467-482
Date Published
1983
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examines the earliest childhood memories of middle-class male delinquent property offenders and a matched sample of nondelinquents to determine whether differences existed between the two groups, with the goal being the development of a procedure to distinguish between the groups.
Abstract
Data from the two earliest childhood memories of each subject were used to distinguish 15 delinquents from 18 nondelinquent controls. Subjects were male, middle class, 15-17 years of age, and equated for verbal IQ. All delinquents were property offenders. A coding system devised from the memories of the delinquents and nondelinquents identified 80 percent of the delinquents and 100 percent to the nondelinquents. These prediction rates exceeded those from three clinicians experienced in working with a comparable delinquent population. The coding system was then discussed in terms of the axioms and presuppositions which are suggested by the memories of the delinquent sample. Tabular data and 43 references are provided. (Author abstract modified)