Psychological Factorsof Juvenile Delinquent Behaviour

Introduction. Economic and social changes in Russia of the early 21st century resulted in a sharp drop in demand for spiritual values, deformation of the institution of the family, social and psychological maladjustment of children and juveniles, deterioration of health and a criminal situation. Juvenile delinquency in its development reflects the same patterns that are present in the development of the society. The goal is to identify the psychological factors of juvenile delinquent behaviour for possible usage of the results obtained in psychocorrectional work with juveniles who have committed crimes and their families. Materials and Methods. The personality traits of juvenile delinquents were studied via R. Cattell's personality questionnaire for juveniles (form C), a questionnaire for identifying components of personal helplessness (developed by M. O. Klimova, D. A. Tsiring), D. A. Tsiring “Traumatic events” questionnaire, narratives designed to study the level of development of model of juvenile mind. The styles of child upbringing by mothers were studied by means of “Analysis of Family Relationships” methodology (E. G. Eidemiller, V. V. Yustitskis). The sample consisted of 250 juveniles aged 14-17, 125 of whom committed offenses. The study also involved 80 mothers. Results and Discussion. Within the framework of this research, a psychological factor (from the Latin factor – making, producing) is understood as a certain condition that affects human behavior, represents an internal immediate cause of action. Delinquent behavior is considered as a quality of the subject, representing the process of interaction of the individual with the environment, mediated by certain personality traits in the cognitive and emotional spheres, with a deficit in the organization and development of the model of mind. The negative influence of the inharmonious style of upbringing by the mother and the origin of a traumatic event in juveniles' life on the formation of delinquent behavior of a teenager has been established. Conclusions. Psychological factors of juvenile delinquent behavior are environmental factors, which include inharmonious parenting styles and traumatic events in juveniles' life, and internal ones, such as emotional immaturity, insensitivity, rigidity, low level of mental intelligence, and a deficit in the development of a model of juvenile mind.