NCJ Number
131460
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (July 1990) Pages: 81-85
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The role of personality factors in the etiology of Indian juvenile delinquency is examined in relation to Boevet's theory.
Abstract
The theory states that insecurity gives rise to free-floating anxiety which creates tension which in turn releases an aggressive reaction usually in the form of criminal behavior. This act culminates in a feeling of guilt which further causes anxiety, and the circle is repeated. One hundred and fifty delinquents from the Junior Certified School for Boys in Andhra Pradesh, South India and 150 normal children from the Municipality and TTD Schools were assessed through a translated version of Maslow's Security-Insecurity Inventory and the IPAT Anxiety Scales. The results showed that the two groups did not differ significantly on security-insecurity (t = 0.8999, not significant at 0.05 level) and anxiety (t = 1.2114, not significant at 0.05 level) scales. This study contradicts Bovet's theory of insecurity and free-floating anxiety as prime determinants in the causation of delinquency. Further examination of the relationship between security-insecurity and anxiety as well as delinquency is needed. 31 references (Author abstract modified)