Dimensions of Delinquency

Abstract

While a number of studies on the Jesness Inventory (Jesness, 1972), an instrument developed to both predict and differentiate delinquency, have shown positive results, the utility of the instrument has been questioned by (1) negative findings of some research and (2) challenges of the reliability and validity of the instrument (Shark and Handal, 1977). Because of the limitations of the original analytic method used by Jesness, the present study sought to isolate, by factor analysis at the item level, personality dimensions of 422 adjudicated, noninstitutionalized adolescents. Results revealed three factors: Mistrust, Social Pessimism, and Hypersensitivity. Comparison of these factors with those scales derived in an earlier factor analytic study was made.

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