NCJ Number
129425
Journal
Japanese Psychological Research Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (1990) Pages: 181-191
Date Published
1990
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A study of deviant behavior in Japanese high school students was conducted to develop scales for assessing tendencies of juvenile behavioral deviations, particularly juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
One thousand one hundred and sixty boys and girls, their teachers, and their parents were given a series of tests and rating scales during a 10-year period ending in 1982. The measurement devices analyzed characteristics of the deviators and students with psychosocial adjustment problems in reference to their styles of perception: self perception (self-image); reflected self-perception (looking glass self); or social perception (images of other person or events). Significant differences were found between the behavioral deviators and control groups in all three forms of perceptions. Particularly notable were differences related to introversion-extraversion, emotional stability, ego-concernedness, ego-centrism, self-control, and achievement motives. These categories may be used to identify early tendencies toward deviant behaviors in juveniles. The results show that the cognitive styles of the juvenile deviators were closely related to behavioral deviations and suggested the potential use of cognitive modification for changing behavioral deviations. 5 tables and 18 references (Author abstract modified)