NCJ Number
78385
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychology Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1981) Pages: 426-429
Date Published
1981
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A factor analytic study was conducted using 259 male and female juvenile offenders in a southern correctional facility to identify clusters of demographic and behavioral variables associated with various types of offenders.
Abstract
The subjects included 101 black and 71 white male offenders and 51 black and 36 white female offenders. Most of the females were between ages 11 and 15, while most of the males were between ages 16 and 18. Delinquency and property crimes accounted for most of the males' offenses, while delinquency accounted for most of the females' offenses. Offenders came from mainly lower class backgrounds. Subjects were interviewed individually by a team of 4 interviewers, who used a standardized data collection form that consisted of 99 structured categories. Information was obtained on such subjects as significant interpersonal relationships, educational history, personal preferences for leisure activities, views on the handling of money, and type of parental discipline. Relevant data from the offenders' files were obtained with permission, and covered such areas as the reason for the present incarceration and offense slips. A total of 48 demographic and behavioral variables were scalable and were used in a correlation matrix and factor analysis. Ten identifiable factors, or clusters of variables, were identified for females and six were identified for males. For females, factor one described the expressive offender, who is characterized by rationality, intelligence, and socially active behaviors. Factor two, the neurotic offender, was characterized by emotionality, nervousness, and tension. Other female factors were the advantaged offender; the white middle class offender; the overindulged, only child offender; the bright, low-income offender; the emotionally disturbed offender; the counterdependent offender; the crowd-pleasing delinquent; and the unloved, family-conflicted offender. The factors for males included the expressive offender; the neurotic offender; the advantaged offender; the bright, habitual offender; the offender from a broken home; and the entrepreneurial offender. Two tables and a reference are provided.