Motywacja osiągnięć, kluczowe autoewaluacje i kompetencje społeczne młodocianych przestępców

Abstract

Adolescence is characterised by dynamic changes in both physical and mental development. During this period, it is particularly easy to develop antisocial behaviours and contact with people from criminal groups. The article presents the results of a pilot study which aim was to compare the results of the level of social competences, core self-evaluations and achievement motivation between a group of adolescents placed in juvenile detention centres and a group of high school students. According to the author, these variables may be psychological resources that contribute to effective resocialization and psychotherapy of adolescents placed in correctional institutions. The analysis of the results showed significant differences in the level of core self-evaluations, except that the group of juvenile offenders scored significantly higher than the comparison group. The remaining differences were not statistically significant. Additional analyses showed a strong relationship between the level of core self-evaluations and the level of social competence and a moderate correlation between the level of achievement motivation and the level of social competence in the group of juvenile offenders. Appropriate use of the results may contribute to increasing the effectiveness of resocialization and reducing the risk of recidivism.