Nonbehavioral Correlates of Juvenile Delinquency: Communications of Detained and Nondetained Young People About Social Limits

Abstract

Focusing on nonbehavioral correlates of juvenile delinquency, young people’s attitudinal reactions toward social limits were measured by means of the Standard Reaction Instrument (SRI). Responses of 85 detained young offenders were compared with those of 390 nondetained controls. Relationships between attitudinal reactions and scores on the Youth Self-Report’s delinquent behavior and aggressive behavior syndromes were examined. Significant differences between detained and nondetained young people were found with regard to knowledge of behavioral alternatives and behavioral intentions. Furthermore, in nondetained young people, significant relationships were found between transgressive intentions, self-oriented motivations, here-and-now oriented motivations, and scores on delinquent behavior and aggressive behavior. Young people reporting high rates of undersocialized behavior were more inclined to transgress social limits and more often attributed their intentions to self-oriented motivations and less often to here-and-now-oriented motivations. The results supported the self-presentation theory on juvenile delinquency.