Criminology Research Council grant ; (22/92)
This study investigated the preferred conflict resolution strategies and causal attributions of adolescent males in detention and on probation. Fifty-eight males in detention (age range 15 to 18) and 38 males on probation (age range 17 to 21) were interviewed. Using 13 carefully constructed vignettes of typical conflict situations, the respondents were asked to choose their preferred method of solving the conflict from a choice of six methods, three of which were passive and three aggressive. They were also asked to attribute the cause of one conflict incident and to indicate their interest in learning how to communicate more effectively in conflict situations.
This study has been valuable in providing a methodology to examine the psychological make-up of offenders and it has yielded useful insights into how young offenders view the world. It is clear that they have a mixed approach to solving conflict, with immediate resort to physical strategies with peers, but with more passive approaches to authority figures and, particularly to parents. In terms of how they deal with conflict, there are few noticeable differences between youth in detention and youth on probation. Certainly, the older group appeared to be more willing to compromise but the preferred choices for resolving arguments are still quite aggressive and socially maladaptive.
In terms of attributing causes to incidents, both populations are virtually identical. They express a moderate level of acceptance of the problem but some data suggest that these youth feel they have little control over events. There is a definite need to follow this conclusion through, particularly to determine whether, through courses and counselling, it is possible to change this attitude.
The needs analysis showed that all these offenders are keen to learn how to cope with their emotions and how to communicate with others in ways which will enhance acceptance and mutual respect.
The lesson for the research team is that these offenders and probationers are very similar in many ways. The effect of detention does not seem to have changed the basic way they see life, particularly how they view conflict situations. Even though offenders do not accept blame readily and feel they cannot control events in their lives, they are keen to change and improve. Another continuing problem is the influence of inappropriate methods of solving conflict, accurately assessing blame and knowing how to communicate effectively on the offenders' success in gaining and maintaining employment. It is likely that their communicative and social skills will continue to cause problems for them in vocational opportunities.
There is a serious concern with the literacy of young offenders. While this problem is recognised by most juvenile justice researchers, and while it was not the concern of this study, it is important to understand the extent of literacy problems and the impact of low levels of literacy on the self-concept and employability of offenders. If they lack the basic skills required to function effectively in the mainstream of society, it is clear that young offenders will always be marginalised. marginalisation engenders a commitment to values which are inimical to full acceptance by society and which will ensure that these offenders maintain patterns of behaviour which will ultimately cause them to re-offend.
This study lends encouragement to the corrective system to take advantage of the opportunity to improve the communicative and social capacities of offending youth. Such programs, if effectively implemented, should mean that these youth will reduce their current socially unacceptable ways of dealing with conflict. The likelihood is, of course, that maintenance of inappropriate communicative and social behaviour will bring these youth to the attention of the justice system repeatedly. If these premises are correct, the continuing lack of communicative facility and social skills may prove to be decisive factors in recidivism in young Australian males.