NCJ Number
55406
Journal
Journal of Psychiatry and Law Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1974) Pages: 45-71
Date Published
1974
Length
27 pages
Annotation
USING SIX CASE STUDIES OF AGGRESSIVE-VIOLENT MALE ADOLESCENTS, THIS PAPER EXAMINES AND CONFIRMS THE TRIAD HYPOTHESIS THAT ENURESIS, FIRE SETTING, AND ANIMAL CRUELTY ARE HIGHLY PREDICTIVE OF ADULT MALE VIOLENCE.
Abstract
DURING A 6-MONTH PERIOD, CLINICAL CONSULTANTS TO THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY EXAMINED A TOTAL OF 46 CLIENTS, 6 OF WHOM DEMONSTRATED THE TRIAD OF ENURESIS, FIRE SETTING, AND EXCESSIVE ANIMAL CRUELTY. EACH OF THESE SIX SUBJECTS WAS SEEN INDIVIDUALLY IN PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION AND SUBSEQUENT REFERRAL FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. CASE INFORMATION ON THESE SUBJECTS IS PRESENTED ACCORDING TO THREE AREAS OF CONSIDERATION: ASSOCIATED PATHOGNOMONIC VARIABLES, SEXUALLY ABERRANT BEHAVIOR, AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE TRIAD. MANIFESTATIONS OF EXTREME VIOLENCE AND MARKED SEXUAL DEVIATION ARE DOCUMENTED FOR EACH OF THE SUBJECTS, MOST OF WHOM WERE REARED IN DISORGANIZED AND DEPRIVED FAMILIES. EACH SUBJECT EVIDENCED SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFICULTY, ENURESIS THROUGH THE ONSET OF PUBERTY (THE MOST PERSISTENT OF THE TRIAD SYMPTOMS ACCORDING TO THIS SAMPLE), SOME KIND OF SEXUAL PERVERSION OR SENSE OF INADEQUACY AS A MALE, CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, AND SOME FIRE-SETTING BEHAVIOR. IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT ALL SUBJECTS, RANGING FROM 13-20 YEARS, SIGNALLED PRESENCE OF THE TRIAD SYMPTOMS UP TO THE TIME OF THE STUDY OR TO THE TIME OF PUBERTY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE DEVELOPMENTALLY ARRESTED INFANTILE CHARACTER FORMATION SIGNALLED BY THE TRIAD SUGGESTS THAT TREATMENT EFFORTS BE DIRECTED TOWARD REMARKABLE PERSONALITY CHANGE RATHER THAN CONFLICT RESOLUTION OR RELEARNING OF SOCIALIZATION SKILLS. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)