Social cognitive skills and behavioural adjustment of delinquent adolescents in treatment

Social cognitive skills (i.e. problem-solving, self-control, locus of control, rational attributions) were examined in aggressive and non-aggressive delinquent youths at two levels of behavioural functioning (high versus low). Behavioural functioning was defined in terms of the youths' standing within a 10-level behavioural token economy programme. Inventories and questionnaires were used to measure the skills of interest. A significant interaction was found on problem-solving skills, with higher functioning, non-aggressive youths performing better than their lower functioning counterparts, while no differences occurred within the aggressive groups. No differences were obtained on the other measures.