Delinquency as Self-presentation(1)―Findings from structured interviews―

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine characteristics of self-presentation behavior among juvenile delinquents. Structured interviews were administered to 10 male juvenile delinquents in Juvenile Classification Home (delinquents) and 10 male senior high school students (non-delinquents). In structured interviews, subjects were asked how they would behave, and what kind of impressions they would form in a social predicament scene. Results were as follows: In a social predicament scene which were used in our study, as compared with non-delinquents, (1) delinquents were likely to behave roughly and rudely so as to save their face (their reputation), (2) delinquents were prefer to get strong and aggressive image of themselves, (3) delinquents were intend to control the impressions which peers form of them.