Symposium on behavioral pediatrics. Juvenile delinquency

The pediatrician's first step in responding to delinquent behavior is to make a differential diagnosis between sociological, characterological and neurotic delinquency. Sociological delinquency consists of subculturally sanctioned illegal activity by youngsters who are psychologically well-adjusted members of their peer group, and its treatment depends primarily on prevention through social action programs rather than on the intervention of the clinical practitioner. Characterological delinquency reflects a serious and long-standing personality disorder marked by aggressive and impulsive behavior and a lack of attachment to or consideration for others, and its treatment requires extensive psychotherapy, often in a residential setting. Neurotic delinquency involves uncharacteristic misbehavior of recent origin that represents an attempt to communicate unrecognized needs for attention or help, and it can often be treated effectively with short-term psychotherapy.