AUTONOMY, RELATEDNESS, AND MALE-ADOLESCENT DELINQUENCY - TOWARD A MULTIDIMENSIONAL VIEW OF SOCIAL COMPETENCE

This study explored adolescents' developmental strivings for autonomy and relatedness as motivations in social problem-solving competence, a nd the relevance of those strivings to explaining variation in delinqu ent activity. Eighty African American and Caucasian male adolescents ( II through 18 years of age) at high risk for delinquency provided thei r likely strategies for resolving hypothetical interpersonal dilemmas. Strategies reflecting relatedness striving and autonomous-related rea soning were correlated positively with social problem solving and acad emic competence. Acts of delinquency were mom frequent among adolescen ts whose strategies showed little relatedness striving, combined with lack of understanding that relationships can support both autonomy and relatedness. These findings support the view that motivations to esta blish autonomy while maintaining relationships characterize important dimensions of adolescent social competence and may help enhance knowle dge of adolescent problem behaviors. Recommendations for prevention an d intervention efforts include increased attention to providing settin gs that facilitate positive expressions of developmental needs for aut onomy and relatedness.