NCJ Number
11957
Date Published
1972
Length
270 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A PROJECT WHICH FOCUSED ON THE BUILDUP OF GOOD SELF-CONCEPT OF PREADOLESCENT INNER-CITY YOUTH WHO ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF GRAVITATING TOWARD DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE PREVENTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY MUST BE TIED TO AN EFFORT TO OVERCOME THE CRITICAL LACK OF A ROLE STRUCTURE TO WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE PERCEIVE THEMSELVES AS BELONGING AND TO REVERSE THE PRESENT TREND TOWARD ALIENATION AND REVOLT. THIS WORK REPORTS THE RESULTS OF A DELINQUENCYPREVENTION PROGRAM CONDUCTED OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS IN THE SEVENTH-GRADE CLASSES OF THE INNER-CITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS OF A LARGE AMERICAN CITY. PROFESSORS DINITZ AND RECKLESS DESIGNED THEIR EXPERIMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT A BOY'S NOTION OF THE KIND OF PERSON HE IS MAY BE THE DETERMINANT OF HOW HE BEHAVES. THE EXPERIMENT WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE CONCEPTS OF THEMSELVES HELD BY SELECTED SCHOOLBOYS THROUGH THE REPRESENTATION TO THEM OF APPROPRIATE ROLE MODELS. THE RESULTS OF THIS CONCENTRATED AND SYSTEMATIC STUDY FAIL TO SHOW SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP, HOWEVER, THEY SHED LIGHT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SELF-CONCEPT VARIABLE IN THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)