NCJ Number
55819
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 25-27
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A MODEL DESCRIBING THE ETIOLOGY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS PRESENTED, AND APPLICATIONS OF THE MODEL ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE MODEL IS TO ILLUSTRATE HOW THE INTERACTION OF BEHAVIOR DETERMINANTS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF A YOUTH'S LIFE WAS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF LIMITING THE RANGE OF BEHAVIOR CHOICES AVAILABLE TO THE YOUTH, THUS DETERMINING THE PROBABILITY THAT THE YOUTH WILL CHOOSE EITHER SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE OR SOCIALLY DEVIANT (DELINQUENT) BEHAVIOR AS AN ADOLESCENT. THE FIRST LEVEL IN THE MODEL INCLUDES FACTORS IN THE YOUTH'S EARLY BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT--BIOLOGICAL FACTORS, FAMILY, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, EARLY SOCIALIZATION, SCHOOL, EXPERIENCE, LEARNING. THE SECOND LEVEL DESCRIBES THE YOUTH'S CURRENT SITUATION--PERSONALITY (SELF-CONCEPT), VALUES, NEEDS, PEERS, MODELS, IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT, RECENT EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING. BY PLOTTING THE EXTENT TO WHICH EACH OF THESE FACTORS HAS BEEN OF A NATURE CONDUCIVE TO ACCEPTABLE OR UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PREDICT THE PROBABILITY OF DELINQUENCY IN A GIVEN INDIVIDUAL AND TO GAIN A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE FACTORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT PROBABILITY. THE MODEL HAS APPLICATIONS IN PREVENTIVE INTERVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT PLANNING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT. BY IDENTIFYING AND CORRECTING THE DEFICIENCIES THAT LIMIT SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE CHOICES FOR YOUTHS, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO DESIGN INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN EXPANDING THE RANGE OF BEHAVIOR CHOICES AVAILABLE TO YOUTHS. (LKM)