Social and self-perceptions of institutionalized and noninstitutionalized juveniles

The present study assessed the social- and self-perceptions of 71 institutionalized delinquents and 210 noninstitutionalized high school students in an attempt to identify possible differences in these perceptions and address the issue of labeling. Subjects were administered a semantic differential instrument containing scales measuring self-perceptions and the social perceptions of six status groups. The data were analyzed utilizing confinement status (institutionalized vs. noninstitutionalized) and gender as control variables. Results revealed no difference between institutionalized and noninstitutionalized groups in self-perceptions; both were relatively positive. The self-perceptions of institutionalized subjects were significantly higher than their perceptions of problem teenagers and criminals. A variety of additional significant effects are also presented. Possible interpretations of the findings, as well as implications for treatment methodology, recidivism rate analyses, and future research are discussed.