Interpersonal trust and severity of delinquent behavior.

Abstract

Rotter's Interpersonal Trust Scale and Roberts' subscales of Political and Peer Trust were administered to 20 normals, 20 delinquents with misdemeanor offenses and 20 delinquents with felony offenses. It was expected that the delinquents would report lower interpersonal trust than the normal group and further that the felony group would report less trust than the misdemeanor group. Results showed no differences between groups for the Rotter Interpersonal Trust Scale and the Roberts Political Trust, but the combined delinquent group was significantly lower on Peer Trust. The misdemeanor subgroup was the main contributor of this difference, however, and non-significant reverse differences were noted for severity. Findings are discussed in terms of subgroup selection factors, and general societal decline in trust.