Labelling Effect on Adolescents' Self-Concept

Abstract

The present research reports the findings of a study assessing delinquency amongst British adolescents. The aim of the study was to investigate whether labelled and unlabelled delinquents differ in the patterns of their self-concept. Subjects were selected from secondary schools, educational guidance centers, and community homes. In total 360 labelled, unlabelled, and nondelinquent male and female adolescents completed a structured questionnaire based on the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and a Self-Report Delinquency Scale. The findings revealed that a significant difference exists between the groups in the patterns of their self-concept. Adolescents who have been labelled as delinquents had a lower self-concept than their unlabelled delinquent counterparts. Both groups were lower in their self-concept than their nondelinquent counterparts.

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