U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Explaining Juvenile Delinquency From a Biosocial Developmental Perspective

NCJ Number
121708
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: (December 1989) Pages: 185-196
Author(s)
W Buikhuisen
Date Published
1989
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on the persistent juvenile offender.
Abstract
A multidisciplinary theory is offered to explain his criminal behavior. This theory starts from the assumption that in the case of the chronic juvenile delinquent we are dealing with a failing socialization process. Factors influencing the outcome of this socialization process are discussed and analyzed from a developmental perspective. Working hypotheses are presented to help understand why some developments may lead to behavioral problems such as criminal activities, while in other cases internalization of problems can be observed. This article is an attempt at integration of existing theories concerning the persistent juvenile offender. 2 figures, 24 references. (Author abstract)