The goal of this study was to examine various background factors that are associated with particular models of chronic juvenile offending. It was assumed that when chronic offending postdictors are identified, then more beneficial interventions can be developed, insofar as they are based on empirical data. In order to achieve this end, a sample of juvenile offenders, who were confined to a residential treatment facility, were examined. A statistical grouping technique was used in order to differentiate possible types of adolescent offenders, on the basis of numerous risk variables.The sample included 174 adolescents (aged 12-17) who were identified by a juvenile justice system. Information was gathered from interview data (including demographic information, family relationships, substance use, school performance, suicidal ideation/attempts, abuse history, dating history, life stressors, and religiosity), the Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality Inventory for Adolescents (MMPI-A), and juvenile justice charge and placement data. Two separate offending profiles were then developed based on juvenile justice charges and interview data. The offending groups were then compared on the MMPI-A to aid in identification of chronic offenders. Additionally, offending group differences were assessed on measures of recidivism in order to assess the utility of the offending group categories.The offending profile based on juvenile justice charges was highly differentiated on measures of recidivism and severity of placement. No significant differences on the interview data or MMPI-A score profiles were evident with this offending typology. The offending profile based on interview data was significantly differentiated on MMPI-A score profiles. No significant differences were noted on juvenile justice charges and measures of recidivism and placement. Gender differences were apparent in the second offending typology. Specifically, a sub-sample of female offenders evidenced disordered family relationships and higher rates of general pathology. Hence, implications for gender differences, as well as both the mental health and juvenile justice fields were readily evident in this study. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of assertion training as a short-term treatment approach with long-term incarcerated male juvenile delinquents. Delinquent behavior has been conceptualized by some researchers as a manifestation of situation-specific social-behavioral skill deficits. It has been suggested that some individuals behave maladaptively because they lack the appropriate skills. Assertion training focuses on the acquisition of situation-specific social-behavioral skills. Assertion training has often been used for increasing a person's self-worth and interactional skills. It was hoped that this study would provide evidence to support assertion training as a systematic and effective tool for enhancing the delinquent's repertoire of social-behavioral skills, enabling him to interact more appropriately within the institution and providing him with new skills which can benefit him upon reintegration into the community. A pre-test-post-test control group design was utilized. The population consisted of male incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Forty-four were randomly assigned to an experimental and control group. Criterion measures were given to all subjects during the first and last week of the training. The experimental group received assertion training which utilized the techniques of behavior-rehearsal, modeling, coaching, and homework. Significant results beyond the .05 level of confidence were obtained on four of the five hypotheses. The groups differed in assertiveness, aggressiveness, and aggressive behavior. The groups did not differ in submissiveness. The data indicate that assertion training is effective as a short-term treatment method with long-term incarcerated juvenile delinquents.

This dissertation examined etiological risk factors in juvenile delinquency from a control theory perspective (social and self-control theories). Two adolescent samples were used for this purpose: A Swiss national sample (N = 970) and a local American sample (N = 232). Four main questions were empirically examined: First, whether rates of deviance in delinquency were different by Swiss educational tracks (apprentices versus Gymnasium students) and by national origin (Swiss versus "non-Swiss"). Second, whether underlying developmental processes in juvenile delinquency were similar by educational tracks, by language regions, and by birth origins. Third, whether self-control was predictive of later deviance (U.S. sample). And finally, what explanation applied to the rates of delinquency in Swiss and American youth. The findings were: (1) Apprentices were more delinquent than Gymnasium students; no difference was found by national origin; (2) self-control during early adolescence was highly predictive of delinquent behavior four years later; and (3) American youths were consistently more delinquent than their Swiss age mates, especially on more serious acts. Although developmental processes in delinquency were similar for both groups, Swiss youth reported closer family relations and a higher level of self-control. These closer family relations and the greater self-control accounted for over 70 percent of the mean level difference in delinquency by nation. The discussion section focuses on implications of this study's findings for the tenets of self-control theory as well as its implications for national differences.

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The literature which addresses the treatment and disposition of juvenile offenders thoroughly establishes the prevalence of racial bias. Though research is abundant regarding racial bias in both the mental health field and in the juvenile justice system, little exists which examines whether the two combine to contribute to the disproportionate percentage of minority offenders in the justice system. This paper examines this possible contribution. It is hypothesized that both probation officers and mental health professionals employ racial discrimination in dispositional recommendations leading to recommendations for the incarceration of black offenders although white offenders with identical characteristics are recommended for placement in mental health treatment facilities. A log-linear model for single-response qualitative data was modified to a 2 x 2 chi-square analysis due to the low number of referrals to detention which would not allow an evaluation of interactions between the variables. Utilizing a chi-square analysis, statistical significance was not met. Possible reasons for these findings and implications for research are addressed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

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Part I. Previous analyses of samples of women in the 1950's revealed that intentions for further births were affected by the sex of the previous children. More recent analyses found however that the effect of previous childrens' sex on fertility intentions has either diminished or disappeared completely, and some writers on the subject concluded that the decline in family size norms could account for that finding. The research reported herein, using samples of married women interviewed in the 1965 and 1970 National Fertility Studies, shows that at least among women with two children there has been no change over time in the tendency for mothers of similar sex children to be more likely to want an additional child than mothers of opposite sex children. The persistence of that tendency among mothers of two children argues strongly for including the sex of previous children as an independent variable in models of fertility intentions, since the decline in family size norms makes factors which affect the decision to have (or not have) a third child increasingly important. Part II. Since Stouffer's pioneering effort to ascertain the public's intolerance of various nonconformists, numerous researchers have relied on summary measures and scales to investigate intolerance and have stressed the effects of such general processes as aging and education on such measures. Parallel analyses of four of Stouffer's original items that were recently replicated and of four items included in the 1958 and 1971 Detroit Area Studies schedules indicates however that the use of such summary measures or scales is unjustified and that the processes of education and aging alone are inadequate in explaining changes in intolerance over time. While a small proportion of both samples are consistently (and perhaps ideologically) tolerant or intolerant in their responses to both sets of items, most respond situationally to the items and changes in tolerant and intolerant responses over time vary according to the item considered. Differential change by color in the Detroit sample suggests that short term and less predictable period effects must be considered (along with such general processes as aging and education) in explaining the level of intolerance at any given time, and changes in that level over time. Part III. An analysis of juveniles attending six Arizona high schools in the fall of 1975 shows that how homes were disrupted (by death, divorce or separation, or some other reason) has little impact on delinquent behavior and referrals to court, but whether homes were broken had a strong and consistent effect on both. Further, whereas it was the absence of a mother or father which affected the juveniles' delinquent behavior, it was the absence of a mother (but not a father) which affected their being referred to court.

This study addresses the academic, social, and self-image self-concepts of females ages 13-17 who are labeled emotionally and behaviorally disordered by their public school systems and are in residential treatment, and females ages 13-17 who are adjudicated, or labeled “juvenile offenders” and are involved with the juvenile justice system. The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the self-concepts of these populations of adolescent females. Research questions focus on whether or not there is a difference in the confidence scores of self-image, academic, and social self-concepts, the importance scores of self-image, academic, and social self-concepts, and the confidence composite and outcome composite scores among female adolescents according to whether or not the female is adjudicated. Results show no statistically significant differences on seven of the eight measures. On the eighth measure, a statistically significant difference was found, with the non-offenders having a higher Outcome Confidence Composite score than the offenders.