Institutionalized and noninstitutionalized juveniles' perceptions of "self" and "other" status gropus.

Abstract

The present study assessed the social-and self-perceptions of 71 institutionalized delinquents and 210 noninstitutionalized high school students. Subjects were administered a semantic differential scale questionnaire consisting of twelve scales to measure social-perceptions of the following status groups: rock stars, parents, police officers, medical doctors, teachers, criminals, social workers, problem teenagers, businessmen, juvenile court judges, priests and ministers, and correctional officers. A scale entitled "I am" was used to measure subjects' self-perceptions. The data were analyzed utilizing Confinement Status (institutionalized versus noninstitutionalized) and Gender as control variables. The social control theory of Hirschi was tested by determining the social status group(s) with which the institutionalized and noninstitutionalized subjects identified themselves most closely. Only a minimal degree of empirical support was obtained for Hirschi's social control theory. Results also revealed no significant difference between institutionalized and noninstitutionalized groups in self-perceptions. Both groups displayed selfperceptions that were positive relative to their social-perceptions. However, noninstitutionalized subjects generally displayed more positive social-perceptions of status groups with a high degree of freedom-restricting potential than did institutionalized subjects. Specifically, the Confinement Status factor was significant for the parents, police officers, criminals, social workers, problem teenagers, juvenile court judges, and correctional officers status groups. More specifically, the evaluation of Confinement Status effects at specific Gender levels revealed significant differences for the police officers, criminals, social workers, juvenile court judges, and priests and ministers Self-perception.