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Understanding and Modification of Delinquent Behavior

NCJ Number
100948
Author(s)
L Morgan
Date Published
1985
Length
260 pages
Annotation
This book provides an overview of juvenile delinquency, its causes, management, and relationships to capitalism and adult social problems.
Abstract
Psychoanalytical, socialistic, and social psychological theories of juvenile delinquency are reviewed, with special attention to the effects of parental absence and affection, discipline, and the family and community as interacting social agents. The juvenile justice system and its adjudicatory and therapeutic roles are discussed as they relate to the juvenile court, juvenile institutions (e.g., detention facilities, training schools, halfway houses), juvenile probation, aftercare, and diversion. Behavior modification techniques are presented for counseling juveniles in the areas of health, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, racism, religion, dating, achievement and motivation, and family relations. In addition, three practical and successful counseling techniques are described: rational-emotive therapy, which emphasizes understanding feelings, emotions, and attitudes; reality therapy, which challenges unrealistic behavior; and school-based psychotherapy. 73 chapter notes and references.