Prevention of Delinquency Through Repentance

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Abstract
The investigator followed a group of boys in their natural setting, an Israeli slum, in order to study their transition from delinquent to nondehnquent behavior. They were attracted by a local charismatic rabbi and formed a cohesive "study group" around him. The influence of this group upon the boys'behavior was stronger than that of the local older delinquents, with whom the boys had associated prior to their joining the group. The phenomenon is discussed in terms of the reference group theory. In order to understand it fully, the relative attractiveness of the group (that is, its attractiveness vis-à-vis the delinquents' groupings) was investigated . Warmth and caring, together with order and discipline, were found to be the major attracting factors. Possible implications for delinquency prevention are discussed.

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