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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON TIME ORIENTATION IN DELINQUENT AND NON-DELINQUENT ADOLESCENT MALES

NCJ Number
18932
Author(s)
M L REICH
Date Published
1969
Length
44 pages
Annotation
TIME ORIENTATION CONCERNS THE SUBJECT'S PREDISPOSITION TO CONCENTRATE ON SHORT PERIODS OF PRESENT TIME OR ON LONGER PERIODS.
Abstract
DELINQUENTS WERE FOUND TO BE PREDISPOSED TO THE PRESENT MUCH MORE THAN TO THE FUTURE. THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN IN A STATE RESIDENTIAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS AND IN A PUBLIC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CONSIDERED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VARIETY OF SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS. IN EACH SCHOOL, THE PRIMARY AUTHORITY CARRIED EXTENSIVE POWER IN THE MINDS OF THE YOUTHS. THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTACT WITH THE AUTHORITY FIGURE IN EACH SCHOOL SITUATION AS A RESULT OF PERFORMING A TASK POORLY WAS CONSIDERED A STRESS INVOKING SITUATION. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDED THAT THE VARIABLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS OPERATES TO INCREASE (BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY) THE TIME ORIENTATION OF NON-DELINQUENT ADOLESCENT MALES WHILE EVIDENCING NO OBSERVABLE EFFECT ON A MATCHED GROUP OF DELINQUENTS. THE AUTHOR EXPLAINS THAT THE DELINQUENTS WERE PROBABLY ALREADY HABITUATED TO STRESS. A LIMITATION OF THIS STUDY, ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR, IS THAT THE RESULTS CANNOT BE GENERALIZED TO OTHER POPULATIONS DUE TO THE UNUSUAL NATURE OF THE SAMPLE GROUPS.