NCJ Number
46094
Date Published
Unknown
Length
6 pages
Annotation
TEENAGED GIRLS ENROLLED IN A DAY-CARE TREATMENT CENTER ARE STUDIED INTENSIVELY FOR CHANGES IN ABILITY TO RELATE TO AND UTILIZE SOCIAL MORES AND CHANGES IN THEIR FANTASY LIFE.
Abstract
THE 20 DELINQUENTS STUDIED WERE STUDENTS AT GUIDE, A DAY TREATMENT CENTER FOR DELINQUENT GIRLS IN RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA. SEVEN WERE FROM MINORITY GROUPS, THREE BLACK, THREE CHICANO, AND ONE HAWAIIAN. PERSONALITY CHANGES WERE STUDIED THROUGH STORIES TOLD TO THEMATIC APPERCEPTION CARDS AND IN SCORES EARNED ON THE PICTURE ARRANGEMENT SUBTEST OF THE WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE FOR CHILDREN. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE VARIANCE BETWEEN THEMES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THEMES AT THE TIME OF INITIAL TESTING AND AT TESTING 6 MONTHS LATER. GENERALLY IT APPEARS THAT THE FANTASY LIFE OF THE GIRLS IN TREATMENT EITHER MOVES TOWARD INCREASED INVOLVEMENT WITH PEERS, LOVE OBJECTS, LOVE RELATIONSHIPS AND SELF, OR TOWARD DECREASED INVOLVEMENT. OLDER AND BRIGHTER YOUNGSTERS BEGIN TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO PEERS AND LESS TO FAMILIES. FANTASY ABOUT CRIME AND VIOLENCE SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO FANTASY LEVEL ABOUT FATHERS, BUT THE GIRLS DO NOT NECESSARILY PERCEIVE FATHERS AS ENGAGING IN EITHER CRIME OR VIOLENCE. AS THE SENSE OF THREAT LESSENS ON THE FANTASY LEVEL, MORE ATTENTION IS PAID TO LOVE OBJECTS AND TO SELF, WHILE AUTHORITY IN GENERAL IS PERCEIVED IN A MORE FAVORABLE LIGHT. THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE VIEW OF MOTHERS SUGGESTS THAT THE YOUNGSTER WHO BECOMES MORE SOCIALLY ADEPT EVENTUALLY PAYS LESS ATTENTION TO HER MOTHER. THE PROGRAM, WHICH DEVELOPED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY COMMITMENT, HAS ABOUT A 70 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE. THE DECREASED PERCEPTION OF THREAT, WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN SELF-ESTEEM, MAY BE PART OF THIS SUCCESS. FOR RELATED DOCUMENTS, (SEE NCJ-46093, NCJ-46905, AND NCJ-46096.)