A vigorous debate persists in the literature about the efficacy of clinical judgment and actuarial models of risk assessment. This study was designed to augment those commonly used methods by integrating a variety of factors that produce risk and protective effects among 101 youthful offenders. Adolescents and young adults in a maximum-security facility were interviewed with the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV), and completed self-reports of psychopathy, impulsivity, and perceived parental care and protection. This selection of empirically-supported predictors was enhanced by criminal history and family information obtained through extensive file review. Markedly different prediction models emerged based on age. ADHD and PCL Factor 2 predicted adolescents' institutional maladjustment. In contrast, young adults' institutional behavior was influenced by impulsivity, family substance abuse, and gang membership. Treatment progress also differed depending on age; the absence of certain risk factors predicted success for adolescents, while academic achievement and intelligence facilitated young adults' advancement. Importantly, support was demonstrated for the moderating effects of protective factors on violence. Finally, the predictive validity of newly-developed psychopathy self-reports was examined in relation to the PCL:YV. Both the SALE PS-24 and the APSD were modestly effective at differentiating between high and low levels of psychopathy.

Clinical research suggests that adolescent offenders often do not view their criminal behaviors as problematic and, therefore, are not motivated for treatment. Although customarily defined as a static characteristic, the transtheoretical model (TTM) proposes treatment amenability is dynamic and can be achieved through tailored interventions that motivate individuals for treatment. The current study examines the predictive validity of TTM measures for adolescent offenders at a maximum security correctional facility. In particular, the Stages of Change Scale (SOCS) and Decisional Balance for Adolescent Offenders (DBS-AO) were compared with a more traditional assessment tool utilized in evaluating treatment amenability of juvenile offenders (i.e., Risk-Sophistication-Treatment Inventory; RSTI). One hundred adolescent offenders from the Gainesville State School completed two waves of data collection with a 3-month time interval. Information was collected on offenders' treatment progress between waves. Consistent with TTM research, predictors of treatment progress included low scores on the Cons scale on the DBS-AO and on the Precontemplation scale on the SOCS. Participants in the most advanced levels of treatment also scored high on the Sophistication-Maturity scale on the RSTI and the Impression Management scale on the Paulhus Deception Scale.

The Personality Inventory for Youth (PIY) is a recently developed, multiscale assessment instrument designed specifically for adolescents between the ages of nine and 18. The purpose of this archival study was to establish clinical correlates for the PIY scales. PIY profiles were collected from 100 juvenile files at the Gainesville State School and examined in conjunction with the Child Assessment Scale (CAS) and the Personal Attitude Scale (PAS) to provide evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Results indicate modest to moderate convergent validity according to Campbell and Fiske's criteria for construct validity; however, discriminant results indicate considerable overlap among traits which are not expected to be highly correlated.

The purpose of this study was to identify and explore personality characteristics of juvenile delinquents, to compare those characteristics with those of the general population, and determine if there are significant differences, as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), between the personality characteristics of juvenile delinquents and the general population. Juvenile delinquents who were adjudicated into a Texas Youth Commission facility in North Texas were subjects for this study. Participants included 186 males who ranged in age from 14 years to 20 years. Statistical analyses were performed for each of the research questions. When comparing MBTI scores of juvenile delinquents to the general population, significant differences were found on the dichotomous scales, temperaments, function pairs, and types. All type preferences are represented within the juvenile delinquent population. The MBTI can be useful in responding to the education and rehabilitation needs of juvenile delinquents. Knowledge of personality type can help caregivers meet the needs of juvenile delinquents. Understanding personality type preference can serve to provide a deeper understanding of the behaviors that lead to adjudication of juvenile delinquents. A discovery of the types of adolescents who are adjudicated could lead to preventive measures, early detection, and early intervention for students at risk of becoming juvenile delinquents.

D.Ed. (Psychology Of Education) / The writer's personal experience as educational adviser at a TED aid centre shows that theft amongst children often occurs. Of significance is the frequency of theft occuring in younger children. Statistics obtained from the Central Statistics Service show that theft amongst children in South Africa is reaching alarming proportions. Theft is one of the misdemanours of a child that is commonly not handled pedagogically correctly by the parent It may well be that people steal due to a physical need, however, the reason for theft by children is more complex and profound than mere physical need. Before therapeutic action can be taken, it is imperative that some attempt be made to get to know the child better. This study includes a literature study as well as an empirical investigati m. Within the framework of the literature study, an attempt is made to gain perspective on the problem of theft by children. Attention is given to information obtained from literature pertaining to tl e child who steals in respect of contributory causes: personality theory, learning theories and personality development theories; a short discussion of the child in the senior primary and junior secondary school phases; as well as the treatment of the child who steals. The empirical investigation includes the pedo- and psycho-diagnostic testing of a number of children that steal. By means of case studies an attempt is made to uncover those factors that cause these children to steal. For this purpose school children in the senior primary and junior secondary school phases who had been reported to TED aid centres on the East Rand for theft behaviour were included in this investigation. Information was obtained by using the form which is completed upon reporting to the centre; the results of selective tests; interviews with the child's parents or custodians; and discussion with the child himself or herself. The analysis of the case studies is largely qualitative, although it includes quantitive facets as well...

M.A. / The aim of this study is to develop an Adventure Based Counselling (ABC) programme for the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents at the Ekuseni Youth Development Centre (EYDC) at Newcastle. This project is an initiative of the Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund. The ABC programme is based upon the same principles as those utilised by Outward Bound, Project Adventure and Wilderness Challenge (Garvey, 1990). These programmes have been successfully utilised individually or as part of a regimen in the treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents (Laurence & Stuart, 1990). The ABC programme is characterised by a high degree of physical challenge which takes place between a period of briefing and a period of debriefing. Through participation in continuous, cohesive, structured activities, individuals can learn about themselves as whole people, inclusive of physical, emotional and mental abilities and disabilities. This will enable the participants to develop positive emotional, social, physical and mental values which will alter their delinquent behaviour. The following chapter focuses on adolescent development and the possible causes of juvenile delinquency.

Crime committed by youth within South Africa is a problem of growing concern. Family environments are seen as powerful putative factors in the development of offending behaviour. On the basis of family systems theory, it was postulated that juveniles are influenced by the reciprocal interactions amongst family members as it shapes their development. Kohlberg’s theory of moral development illustrates that the formation of morals is influenced by the quality of relationships within family units. This study therefore explored juvenile delinquent’s perceptions of their families and the impact it had on their offending behaviour. The subjective world of these offenders was focused upon within the qualitative paradigm through an exploration of their experiences. This method was deemed significant as it attempted to understand these delinquents in terms of their own definitions of their family lives in order to provide an in-depth and insightful account into how they perceived their families to have influenced their behaviour. Eleven juvenile offenders, aged between 15 and 21 attending a diversion programme participated in the study. The research was conducted in the form of semi-structured individual interviews where various themes relating to the family were explored. The participants’ responses were recorded and analysed utilising thematic content analysis. The participants perceived their families to potentially act as a contributing factor in the development of their criminal behaviour. Specific aspects, namely different family forms, family relationships, patterns and response styles, as well as families levels of emotional involvement were all perceived to have impacted on their delinquent behaviour. Although none of these factors can be considered in isolation, a complex interplay of these family characteristics may significantly contribute to the development of asocial behaviour. In contrast to these findings, areas of contestation also arose from participants’ talk. Despite their delinquency and the potential contribution of the family, some participants identified the family to act as a protective factor and thus not influencing their involvement in criminal acts. Aside from the family, other influences such as peer groups and community violence were also identified as potential risk factors for juvenile delinquency. Therefore although an important contributing factor, the family cannot be considered in isolation when attempting to identify what may lead these juveniles to engage in criminal acts.

Orientador: Rosa Maria Manzoni / Banca: Eliana Merlin Deganutti de Barros / Banca: Dagoberto Buim Arena / Resumo: Esta dissertação concretizou-se devido às necessidades de ensino e aprendizagem de gêneros orais públicos formais na socioeducação. Teve como objetivo investigar formas de como o Seminário Escolar (SE) pode ser um dos instrumentos que medeiam o processo socioeducativo no desenvolvimento humano, cidadão e escolar de adolescentes que cumprem medida de internação na Fundação Casa (FC). Os participantes da pesquisa eram alunos de uma escola estadual que funciona dentro de uma das unidades de internação da FC, na cidade de Iaras, no interior de São Paulo. Para cumprir tal objetivo, elaborou-se uma sequência didática adaptada (SD) fundamentada na didatização do gênero SE a partir da qual foram produzidos textos pertencentes a esse gênero. Buscou-se desenvolver capacidades de linguagem com vistas à produção do gênero SE e, por extensão, impulsionar o desenvolvimento da autonomia e da cidadania de socioeducandos que cumprem medida de internação. Esta pesquisa inscreve-se no referencial teórico-metodológico do Interacionismo Sociodiscursivo (ISD); na Didática das Línguas da Escola de Genebra (2004); na concepção de linguagem e de gêneros bakhtiniana (2003), nos pressupostos teóricos do gênero SE em destaque aos estudos de Dolz; Schneuwly; de Pietro e Zahnd (2004), Gomes-Santos (2012) e na elaboração do modelo teórico proposto por Barros (2011). O percurso metodológico da pesquisa foi delineado nas etapas da pesquisa-ação (THIOLLENT, 1997), nas quais foram diagnosticados os problemas d... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This dissertation materialized due to the needs of teaching and learning of oral public genres formal in the socioeducation. It aimed to investigate ways in which the School Seminar (SE) can be one of the instruments that mediate the socio-educational process in the human, citizen and school development of adolescents who comply with the measure of criminal internment at Fundação Casa (FC). The study participants were students of a state school that works inside one of the FC internment units, in the city of Iaras, in the countryside of São Paulo. To accomplish this objective, an adapted didactic sequence (SD) was elaborated based on the Didatization of the SE genre from which texts belonging to this genre were produced. The aim was to develop language skills with a view to the production of the SE gender and, by extension, to promote the development of autonomy and citizenship of socio-educators who comply with criminal internment measures. This research is part of the theoretical-methodological framework of Sociodiscursive Interactionism (ISD); in the Teaching of Languages of the Geneva School (2004); in the conception of Bakhtinian language and genres (2003), in the theoretical assumptions of the SE genre in emphasis to the studies of Dolz; Schneuwly; of Pietro and Zahnd (2004), Gomes-Santos (2012) and in the elaboration of the theoretical model proposed by Barros (2011). The methodological course of the research was delineated in the stages of action research (THIOLLENT, ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis. 1975. B.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / Bibliography: leaves 107-108. / by Beth L. Karpf. / B.S.

Probation officers report that motivational processes, such as future-orientation and self-concept, are key factors in program participation and success. This dissertation consists of three studies that explored the role of possible selves, a specific form of future-oriented self-concepts, in promoting successful outcomes for youth who are court-ordered to probation. Using survey and administrative data from the Social Processes in Probation Study (SPPS), the first study explored a hypothesized model of how possible selves characteristics affect adolescent probation outcomes (e.g., probation compliance, recidivism, school engagement). This study found that adolescent possible selves were significantly related to probation outcomes, although not always in the manner expected nor as reported for other adolescent populations. Higher counts of possible selves and their characteristics were consistently associated with poorer outcomes for youth on probation. However, further analyses uncovered a complex network of interactions between the characteristics of possible selves, wherein certain combinations of these characteristics transmitted a mixture of beneficial and risky effects for certain outcomes and under certain conditions. Building upon the knowledge gained in the first study, the second study examined the relationship between possible selves and probation outcomes within the context of parental support and probation tactics. Three potential pathways were tested: (A) direct effects, independent of external factors; (B) meditated effects on the relationship of external factors on outcomes; and (C) moderated effects on the relationship of external factors on outcomes. Findings of this study did not support either a mediated or moderated pathway for any of the probation outcomes. However, the data suggest an interaction trend between probation tactics and possible selves for the outcome of rearrests, suggesting that supportive probation tactics may be of importance to lowering risk of rearrest for youth with limited possible selves. For the outcomes of rearrest and of school problems, possible selves had a significant direct effect, even after controlling for perceived parental support and probation tactics. The final study used a grounded theory approach to examine the process through which possible selves translated into behavioral action for adolescents on probation. The data suggest a process involving four phases of action: initial goal development, creation of identity-driven goals, planned action, and sustained progress. During Phase 1, initial goal development occurs as future-oriented thinking emerges following social interactions about the future. During Phase 2, goals integrate with identities to create motivational synergy, helping youth move toward taking action. During Phase 3, goals translate into planned actions through a specific skill set that involves understanding the pathway and steps needed to achieve the goal. During Phase 4, youth engage in sustained pursuit of progress by accessing resources for support, including help to negotiate short-term versus long-term desires, encouragement that bolstered efficacy beliefs, and accountability that communicated that the youth and their goal mattered. Throughout the process, the presence of role models with whom youth identify were important to the development of goals, plans, and perseverance. Implications for practice and policy with this population are discussed.