Reversals, delinquency and disruption

Scores and subscores on the Telic Dominance Scale were analysed, revealing a generally greater tendency for the delinquent group to operate in the paratelic state, whilst disruptive subjects themselves showed lower telic dominance than the controls.

Abstract

The tendency to operate in the telic rather than the paratelic state was examined in three groups of adolescent boys. Those in the first group had a record of criminal behaviour, the second group consisted of subjects whose school behaviour was regarded by teachers as disruptive and a third group acted as controls. Scores and subscores on the Telic Dominance Scale were analysed, revealing a generally greater tendency for the delinquent group to operate in the paratelic state, whilst disruptive subjects themselves showed lower telic dominance than the controls. The implications of these results for popular explanation as well as intervention are discussed.