NCJ Number
16534
Journal
LAW IN AMERICAN SOCIETY Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1974) Pages: 27-31
Date Published
1974
Length
5 pages
Annotation
AN OUTLINE OF THE GAMES AND STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WHILE DEALING WITH OTHERS IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE WORLD AND SATISFY PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR STATES THAT DELINQUENT YOUTH, IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR SANITY, TRY TO HAVE FUN WHILE STRUGGLING FOR SURVIVAL, AND THEREFORE USE COVERT, SNEAKY METHODS (GAMES) TO OBTAIN THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE. THESE GAMES ARE SEEN AS A METHOD FOR ACHIEVING FEELINGS OF WORTH AND A POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPT THREE FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES THAT ARE COMMON TO ALL JUVENILE DELINQUENT GAMES IN VARYING DEGREES ARE REVIEWED. THESE INCLUDE A CHALLENGE TO THE COUNSELOR TO TRY TO CURE THE YOUTH, AN APPEAL TO MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY, AND AN APPEAL TO BE RECOGNIZED OR TOLD THAT HE IS SPECIAL. SOME OF THE MORE FREQUENTLY PLAYED GAMES WHICH REFLECT THESE STRATEGIES ARE DESCRIBED. PASSING THE BLAME AMONG A GROUP OF DELINQUENTS, ASKING FOR PITY, JUSTIFYING BEHAVIOR BY REFERRING TO STEROTYPES OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, VEILED THREATS TO HIMSLEF OR OTHERS, AND PRESENTING A PICTURE OF HOPELESSNESS ARE AMONG THE GAMES COMMONLY USED. OTHER GAMES INCLUDE CLAIMING THAT HE FORGOT TO REMEMBER WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, PRAGMATICALLY LYING, PLACING THE BLAME ON SOME MYSTERIOUS OR OUTSIDE FORCE, AND REVERSING THE IDEAS OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)