[Evaluation of the aggressiveness in a group of adolescents from Puerto Rico].

Abstract

This study is aimed at analyzing from a phenomenological and descriptive viewpoint, the psychodiagnostic and behaviour validity of the legal categories: "delinquents/non-delinquents" and "violent delinquents/non-violent delinquents", as compared to certain features of their personality which determine a violent behaviour in adolescents. To this end, the Rorschach records and the sketches of three groups of Puerto Rican adolescents, have been analyzed and compared. The results of the projective test, statistically compared, showed some significant differences between delinquent individuals and non-delinquent individuals, while the differences between violent delinquents and non-violent delinquents are not meaningful. These results prove that the psychodiagnostic modality "violence" is a standard feature of the delinquent group and it can be neither considered no included in the legal category of "violent crimes". However, different interpretations are possible and several ways for additional thorough studies and investigations can be envisaged.