The social psychological background of delinquency in adolescents

The aim of this study was to reveal the social psychological factors that are effective on adolescent delinquency, with the help of General Strain, Attachment, Coping and Hostile Attribution Bias Theories. In line with this aim, the sample of the research consisted of 382 delinquent male adolescents who stayed at Juvenile Detention Centers in İzmir and Ankara and 237 nondelinquent male students who studied at different high schools in İzmir. The results of the analyses revealed that, the number of experienced negative life events and insecure attachment styles were higher in delinquent adolescents. Also, in terms of coping, it was found out that delinquent adolescents had higher scores in submissive, desperate and self confident approach and nondelinquent adolescents had higher scores in seeking social support approach. But there were no difference between the groups in optimistic approach. In both groups, the number of experienced negative life events were found out to be in significant relation with insecure attachment, ineffective coping styles and hostile attribution bias. While secure attachment had positive relation with effective coping styles, insecure attachment had positive relation with ineffective coping styles. Besides, in both groups, using effective coping styles decreased hostile attribution bias. As a result of the logistic regression analyses, anxious and avoidant attachment styles, submissive coping approach, negative intention attribution and total negative life events were identified to have significant roles in the determination of being in delinquent or nondelinquent adolescent group. In conclusion, strain, insecure attachment, ineffective coping and hostile attribution bias were found out to be creating a cycle that leads the adolencent to criminal behaviors. Key words: Delinquency, Delinquent adolescent, General Strain Theory, Attachment, Coping, Hostile attribution bias