Social Competence and Delinquent, Antisocial, and Non-Deviant Behavior in Adolescents

In the literature, antisocial populations, both with antisocial behavior and delinquent behavior are viewed as mutually interacting. The lack of psychosocial competence has been related with antisocial and delinquent behavior. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that antisocial and delinquent behavior is a consequence of different degrees of lack of social competence. In order to test this hypothesis, in a field study, 450 adolescents 150 juvenile offenders, 150 with antisocial non deviant behavior, and 150 from the normal school population were evaluated in fundamental variables of psychosocial competence. Performed a MAN OVA with the population factor (offenders, antisocial, normative), the results revealed a relationship between social incompetence and antisocial and delinquent behavior as well as an exponential increase in both parameters. The findings are discussed in terms of prevention and treatment strategies for antisocial, delinquent and non-deviant behavior in adolescents.