ABSTRACT
SOME readers are perhaps wondering what may be the bearing on a study of Family Environment and Delinquency of the findings in the prior chapters which deal with analyses of the origins of 66 traits. It should be recalled that most of these traits were previously found (in Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency) to be significantly more characteristic of delinquents than of nondelinquents; and thereby they may be regarded as involved, at least indirectly, in criminogenesis. But a few of the traits analyzed in the foregoing chapters have not been found, in themselves, to be criminogenic. What is their meaning for delinquency? It will soon become evident that certain social factors assume a sort of catalytic significance in rendering such normally neutral traits criminogenic. It might be mentioned, at this point, by way of illustration, that the following traits, although not found in Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency to occur more frequently among delinquents than among nondelinquents, when existing in boys reared under specific inimical environmental circumstances, appear to be given criminogenic potency: introversive trends, intuition, performance ability, feeling of not being taken care of They will be considered in their proper place in the ensuing chapters.
