The psyho-cultural coordinates of juvenile delinquency

• Author: Gabriel Ungureanu
• Position: Psychology Department, Institute of Philosophy and Psychology 'C. R-Motru', Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
• Pages: 207-212

AGORA International Journal of Juridical Sciences, www.juridicalj ournal.univagora.ro

ISSN 1843-570X, E-ISSN 2067-7677

No. 1 (2013), pp. 207-212

207

THE PSYHO-CULTURAL COORDINATES OF JUVENILE

DELINQUENCY

G. Ungureanu

Gabriel Ungureanu

Psychology Department, Institute of Philosophy and Psychology “C. R-Motru”,

Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania.

*Correspondence: Gabriel Ungureanu, Institute of Philosophy and Psychology “C.R-Motru”

Romanian House Academy, 13 Calea 13 Septembrie, Bucharest, Romania

E-mail: gabrielungureanu@hotmail.com

Abstract

The complexity and interrelationship of forms posed by diversity delinquency

phenomenon, outlines the establishment of comparative references, thematic and operational

as a structured approach becomes indispensable. In today's society, as is characteristic of a

phenomenon more pronounced, juvenile delinquency is the subject of numerous researchers

in the country and abroad. Understanding the psycho-individual causes and social situations

that cause this phenomenon in general and specific knowledge of how cultural expression

compared with other countries, provides for measures to prevent criminality and deviance

escalation phenomenon.

Key words: aggression, violence, subcultural, psychological, juvenile delinquency

Introduction

Juvenile delinquency is defined as: the ensemble of acts stipulated by criminal law

committed by minors with criminal liability and by juveniles aged between 14 and 18.

According to law no. 272, juvenile delinquency also includes those acts committed by

children with no criminal liability. This psycho-social phenomenon, along with other psycho-

individual causal determinations, presents a social-cultural conditioning that points to the

great influence exerted in society by culture and the sub-cultural marginal characteristics,

respectively. The complexity of the forms of manifestation and the inter-relations the diversity

of delinquency phenomenon implies, contour the determination of comparative, thematic and

also operational landmarks that consequently become indispensable to a structured

approach. In present-day society, being increasingly accentuated, juvenile delinquency

becomes a matter of study for many researchers within and outside the country.

Understanding the psycho-cultural causes as well as the social circumstances that trigger this

phenomenon in general, but also getting to know the typical cultural way of manifestation

compared to other countries, contribute to taking measures in order to prevent and surmount

the criminogenic deviance phenomenon. Referring to Western Europe countries, Gârleanu

(1996)

1

summarizes that juvenile delinquency is more frequent than criminality in general,

the number of juveniles rises in relation to the total population, and delinquency in general is

more common among them in at least the same proportions. The characteristic of these

countries is the great number of crimes committed by children more frequently organized in

gangs, this predisposition to delinquency becoming more serious, at increasingly younger

age. The difference between young delinquents and adolescents on one hand and younger

1

I. Girleanu, Coordonate psihosociale ale delincvenei juvenile în perioada tra nziiei, Timioara, “Ando Tours”

Publishing House, 1996, p. 40.