Personality, Family, Educational, and Criminological Characteristics of Bright Delinquents

Abstract

30 male juvenile offenders with IQs 115 or above (bright subjects) were compared to 30 delinquents with IQs ranging from 90 to 104 (average subjects). All subjects were administered the Personality Research Form-E and the Personal Opinion Study. In addition, relevant information was recorded from each case history. The bright subjects expressed weaker delinquent attitudes and beliefs than did the average subjects on the Personal Opinion Study. The case histories showed that (1) both groups of subjects had similar family experiences which were generally described as maladaptive, (2) the majority of subjects were characterized as underachievers in school, (3) the offenses committed by the bright and average subjects were not different, and (4) many subjects in both groups were reported to be mildly psychologically disturbed. It was concluded that the weaker delinquent attitudes found among the bright delinquents may increase their success in therapeutic interventions, but in general the bright and average youngsters in this study were not very dissimilar.