NCJ Number
54023
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
MUCH DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS THE OUTCOME OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES RESULTING FROM INCREASED LEVELS OF TRANSIENT OR CHRONIC AROUSAL DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS, ENDOGENOUS CHANGES, OR BOTH. THIS THEORY IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
WHEN HIGHLY AROUSED, INDIVIDUALS BECOME MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFLUENCE, DISPLAY INCREASED STIMULATION-SEEKING BEHAVIOR, AND EXPERIENCE A DETERIORATION IN CONGNITIVE FUNCTIONING. THESE CHANGES COMBINE TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. PARTICIPATION IN CRIME INCREASES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 15, PEAKS IN THE MIDDLE TEENS, AND DECLINES FAIRLY RAPIDLY UNTIL THE LATE 20'S. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT HORMONAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES ARE INITIATED BY THE ENDOGENOUS INCREASE IN BRAIN CATECHOLAMINERGIC (CA) ACTIVITY THAT CHARACTERIZES AROUSAL DURING PUBERTY. THIS NATURAL INCREASE IN AROUSAL MAY INTERACT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND LOWER JUVENILES RESISTANCE TO INFLUENCES AND TO DISTURBANCES IN COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING. THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INFLUENCE CAN BE RECOGNIZED IN JUVENILES' CONFORMITY IN DRESS AND PEER GROUP NORMS, AND THE ALTERNATION IN COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING RESULTING IN MILD PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES IS APPARENT IN TEENAGERS' RAPID MOOD CHANGES, DEPRESSION, AND INCREASED SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS. THESE CHANGES OCCURRING IN PUBERTY-AGED PERSONS COMBINE TO INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. APPLICATION OF THIS THEORY TO STUDIES OF ADJUDICATED JUVENILES IS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE THE LITERATURE IS SCATTERED AND HIGHLY CONTRADICTORY. THE RESEARCH DOES INDICATE, HOWEVER, THAT IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS, PSYCOPATHS TEND TO BE MORE AROUSED, AND IN NONSTRESSFUL SITUATIONS THEY ARE LESS AROUSED THAN CONTROLS. FURTHER RESEARCH IN THIS AREA IS NECESSARY. REFERENCES AND A FLOW DIAGRAM OF THE THEORY ARE APPENDED. (DAG)