PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENT AND DELINQUENCY (FROM ZAGADNIENIA NIEPRZYSTOSOWANIA SPOLECZNEGO I PRZESTEPCZOSCI W POLSCE, P 379-408, 1978, BY JERZY JASINSKI - SEE NCJ-68628)

• NCJ Number: 68640
• Author(s): Z OSTRIHANSKA
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 30 pages
• Sale Source: Polskiej Akademii Nauk
• Country: Poland

Annotation

POLISH STUDIES HAVE FOUND A GREATER INCIDENCE OF MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG OFFENDERS THAN NONOFFENDERS, BUT CRIME IS PRECIPITATED IN THE MENTALLY DISTURBED ONLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.

Abstract

POLISH STUDIES FOUND THAT NEUROTIC SYMPTOMS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN OFFENDERS THAN IN NONOFFENDERS, (IN 31 TO 45 PERCENT OF THE STUDIED OFFENDERS AS COMPARED WITH 19 PERCENT OF THE NONOFFENDERS). ALSO, THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED AS PSYCHOPATHS INCREASED IN LINE WITH THE INCREASED SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENT, (23 PERCENT OF THE JUVENILE OFFENDERS WERE SO DIAGNOSED, AS COMPARED WITH 12 PERCENT OF THE CONTROL GROUP). ENCEPHALOPATHY WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE GROWTH OF MALADJUSTMENT; AND IT WAS FOUND THAT JUVENILES WHO BECAME FIRST OFFENDERS WHEN THEY WERE 9 TO 13 YEARS OLD SUFFERED FROM IT MORE OFTEN THAN THE JUVENILES WHO BECAME FIRST OFFENDERS WHEN THEY WERE 13 TO 17 YEARS OLD. THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT SINCE STUDIES SHOWED THAT THE EARLIER IN LIFE THE FIRST CRIME WAS COMMITTED, THE GREATER WAS THE TENDENCY TO RECIDIVISM. HOWEVER, STUDIES OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND PARTICULARLY RECIDIVISTS SHOWED THAT PHYSICAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES COMBINED WITH NEGATIVE ELEMENTS OF THE FAMILY SITUATION WHICH, IN TURN, WAS OFTEN COMBINED WITH PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL. IT WAS, THEREFORE RECOMMENDED TO LOOK AT THE PERSONALITY OF SOCIALLY MALADJUSTED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE WHOLE PICTURE OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION AND THEIR PAST HISTORY. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. --IN POLISH.