ABSTRACT
In comparing temporary delinquents with continuing delinquents, the following sets of data have been examined: Accounts of past delinquencies given by the youths themselves, taken from transcripts of tape-recorded interviews at age 18–19; Psychological and social observations and measurements taken before the boy's tenth birthday; Reasons volunteered by temporary delinquents for giving up delinquent activity. A comparatively slight commitment to delinquency as a juvenile was more common among those who later gave up delinquency, whereas a serious commitment was more common among those who continued their delinquency into adult life. The temporary delinquents attributed their offences to motives of enjoyment significantly more often than the continuing delinquents. Various psychological measurements were taken before the boys' tenth birthdays, but none of them significantly distinguished between those who became continuing delinquents and those who became temporary delinquents. Boys from deprived backgrounds were more common among the continuing delinquents than among the temporary delinquents.
