NCJ Number
13176
Date Published
1974
Length
380 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION OF CRIME CAUSATION AND PREDICTION OF DELINQUENCY AND MAJOR RESEARCH FINDINGS FROM SEVERAL OF THE AUTHOR'S STUDIES IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
SHELDON AND ELEANOR GLUECK SURVEY AND DISCUSS THE FINDINGS FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THEIR MAJOR WORKS PRODUCED DURING FOUR DECADES OF STUDIES THAT INVOLVED 2500 MALE AND FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. THE AUTHORS OUTLINE THEIR METHODOLOGY, EXAMINE QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE STUDIES AND REVIEW THEIR ECLECTIC APPROACH IN SEEKING THE CAUSAL FACTORS OF DELINQUENCY. ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO VARIOUS FACTORS FOUND TO INFLUENCE DELINQUENCY, SUCH AS FAMILY STABILITY AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIVIDUALS STUDIED. THE RESULTS OF FIVE FOLLOWUP STUDIES OF DELINQUENT POPULATIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL, FOLLOWED BY COMMENTS ON MATURATION AND RECIDIVISM. CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO PREDICTION OF DELINQUENCY AND THE FUTURE OF PREDICTIVE DEVICES. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE A STUDY DEALING WITH THE RELATIONSHIP OF CRIMINOGENIC TRAITS TO PHYSIQUE AND A CORRELATIVE ONE CONCERNED WITH CRIMINOGENIC FACTORS IN FAMILY LIFE. A FINAL CHAPTER OFFERS SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE AN ILLUSTRATION OF ONE OF THE AUTHORS' MATCHED PAIRS OF 'PERSISTENT DELINQUENTS' AND 'TRUE NONDELINQUENTS' DESCRIBED IN ONE OF THEIR STUDIES, AND A SERIES OF REPLIES TO CRITICISMS OF THEIR MAJOR WORKS. (SNI ABSTRACT)