Close relationships of violent and nonviolent African American delinquents.

One hundred and one incarcerated African American adolescent delinquents, 51 violent and 50 nonviolent were contrasted on background variables and measures of close relationships. Violent delinquents were found to be older, have a greater number of arrests, lower reading achievement scores, and were more likely to have a criminal parent in the home. Violent, as compared with nonviolent delinquent, showed differences in close relationships. Violent delinquents were more likely to perceive their mothers as showing more rejection/undifferentiated behavior and their attachments, mainly to hetero-sexual partners, were more anxious. The results were interpreted in terms of both quantitative and qualitative distinctions between violent and nonviolent delinquents, with violent delinquents showing greater impairment.