Neighborhood and community factors: effects on deviant behavior and social competence.
Socialization in a neighborhood and community at risk, defined in terms of violence, social alienation, school failure, and disruptive behavior, is a risk factor for the acquisition of antisocial and delinquent behavior. In order to test this hypothesis and examine the underlying mechanisms involved, 346 participants, 155 high-risk and 191 low-risk, aged 11 to 13, that is, under the age of criminal responsibility as established by the Spanish Law 5/2000 were selected. The results reveal that high-risk youngsters had higher rates of antisocial behavior and lower levels of social skills (i.e., greater tendency to externalize attribution of responsibility, fewer conflict resolution strategies, lower self esteem, and a lower degrees of emotional intelligence) in comparison to the lower-risk group. Finally, the results and implications of the study are discussed in the light of designing prevention programs.
Fariña
Francisca
F
Universidad de Vigo, Spain. francisca@uvigo.es
Arce
Ramón
R
Novo
Mercedes
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012918:Social Alienation; D012919:Social Behavior; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012951:Socialization; D014477:Underachievement; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology