Psychopathological tendencies and juvenile delinquency: origin and impact

Abstract

This present article aims to show the factors behind the emergence of psycho-pathological tendencies of the delinquent juvenile and to describe the resulting effect. Our study was conducted at the Juvenile Re-Education Center (Ain M’lila, - Oum El Bouaghi), it included   a sample of four (04) delinquent juveniles. We used the clinical approach centered on case study by application of the following research tools: semi-directed clinical interview, Woodworth-Mathews pathological tendencies Test, and the genogram.

The results revealed the presence of factors contributing to the genesis of psychopathological tendency in the juvenile delinquent, namely:

Impaired social learning: the adoption of bad companion’s behaviors and the absence of an ideal parental image to assume a proper social role.

Psychological predispositions and organization of the personality: depressive, persecutory, and schizophrenic tendencies, a tendency to loss of logic and Tendency to lose stability.

Family dysfunctions systems across generations characterized by:  conflict, hostility, authoritarian pattern or disengagement.