NCJ Number
34632
Journal
ISRAEL QUARTERLY OF CRIMINOLOGY, CRIMINAL LAW AND POLICE SCIENCE Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1971-72) Pages: 48-58
Date Published
1972
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS RESEARCH ATTEMPTS TO FIND EMPIRICAL SUPPORT FOR THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS LEADING TO DELINQUENCY OR SCHIZOPHRENIA IS ASSOCIATED WITH DISTURBED MUTUAL RELATIONS WITHIN THE FAMILY.
Abstract
THE BASIC PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE THEORETICAL APPROACH OF THIS RESEARCH PAPER ARE: 1) CRIME AND SCHIZOPHRENIA ARE 'LEARNED' AND DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE PHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES; 2) CRIME IS BASICALLY 'NORMAL' BEHAVIOR, AND SCHIZOPHRENIA, AS CULTURALLY DEFINED, IS NOT A DISEASE ENTITY. ACCORDINGLY, THE RESEARCH CONCENTRATES ON EARLY SOCIALIZALTION WITHIN THE FAMILY. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT IN THE CASE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, CONTRADICTORY MESSAGES, WHICH ARE EXISTENTIAL IN CONTENT, ARE TRANSMITTED TO THE CHILD, WHEREAS IN THE CASE OF CRIME, THESE MESSAGES HAVE AN ETHICAL CONTENT. THE METHODOLOGY OF THE RESEARCH IS BASED ON AN INVESTIGATION OF WHOLE FAMILIES, THROUGH A STUDY OF THE MUTUAL RELATIONSHIPS ACTUALLY EXISTING IN THE FAMILY. THUS, AN INVESTIGATION IS MADE OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE SCHIZOPHRENIC OR DELINQUENT CHILD ENCOUNTERS CONFLICT-LADEN COMMUNICATION. IN ADDITION, AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO GATHER INFORMATION ON THESE MATTERS FROM FAMILY LIFE IN THE PAST BY UTILIZING FILMS AND STATEMENTS THAT PRESENT CONFLICT SITUATIONS. IT WAS EXPECTED THAT A HIGHER FREQUENCY OF CONFLICT-LADEN STATEMENTS WOULD BE REPORTED FOR FAMILIES WITH SCHIZOPHRENIC OR DELINQUENT MEMBERS THAN FOR FAMILIES IN THE CONTROL GROUPS. AN INVESTIGATION IS ALSO MADE OF THE ROLE OF THE 'STIGMA' PROCESS IN THE INITIAL RECRUITMENT TO CRIME, AND OF THE ROLE OF THE 'SCAPEGOATING' PROCESS AS THE INITIAL ETIOLOGY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA. THE METHODOLOGY ADOPTED INCLUDES MAINLY THE GATHERING OF INFORMATION FROM THE SUBJECT ABOUT PAST STIGMA OR SCAPEGOATING SITUATIONS, USING STORIES, FILMS AND DIRECT QUESTIONING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) --IN HEBREW. SUMMARY IN ENGLISH