Background Characteristics and Responses to Treatment of Two Types of Institutionalized Delinquent Boys

Abstract

Two types of institutionalized delinquent boys were identified in a sample of 306 for the purpose of investigating differences in the etiology of their antisocial behavior and in their responses to a group-centered treatment program. The “Buoyant” and “Beset” types, defined by their levels of anxiety and depression, are compared conceptually to types identified in other classification schemes. Two-thirds of the sample showed sufficiently stable anxiety and depression over time to warrant classification. The importance of considering stability in defining the types is underscored by comparisons of the stable with unstable boys. Comparison of the Buoyant and Beset types revealed significant differences in life experiences and style of delinquent behavior prior to their institutionalization, in their behavior and attitudes during incarceration, and in the components of the treatment that affected their behavior and attitudes. The findings are discussed in terms of the validity of the proposed typology, their implications for etiological theory, and the guidance they may provide for differential treatment.