The Psycho-Analytical Approach to Juvenile Delinquency
- Author:
Kate Friedlander, M.D., D.P.M. Regan Haul,
Trench, Trubner & Co. . London. 18s. The scope of this book is much wider than its title might suggest. To quote from the author’s preface and introduction it is :
” an attempt to show which problems in the vast field of research in delinquency can be solved by psycho-analysis; and in what way sociological and criminological research workers can make use of psycho-analytical findings in order to further their own investigations And again :
‘’ The scientific facts which have brought about the change in method embodied in the Criminal Justice Bill of 1939 must be brought repeatedly to public notice, until they become directly known to every person who is concerned directly or indirectly with the treatment especially of young offenders.’’’’
Reviewed in this light, this book is a valuable addition to the propaganda literature for the scientific treatment of juvenile delinquency. It is intended especially for those workers with delinquents who have no special psychiatric training or experience and therefore, rightly, it contains little that will be new to the experienced psychiatric worker in this field.
The book is divided into three parts, of which the third is by far the best.
The first part contains a clear concise description, on very orthodox Freudian lines, of normal mental mechanisms in child development. Condensed as this is into a space of 62 pages, it of necessity contains a number of dogmatic statements which, though acceptable to the psychiatrically trained, may well be strongly resisted by the elementary student. On the whole, however, the reasons and explanations are adequately and clearly given. It is the second part of the book which is the least convincing and satisfactory. This section deals with the failure of social adaptation and contains much of the case material described. It is here that the difficulties of simplification and brevity show themselves; because so much has to be omitted, some of the case material does not read convincingly and the inexperienced reader for whom the book is meant may be left wondering if the obvious conscious motivation may not be more correct than the true motivation brought to light by analysis. Of special interest in this section is Dr Friedlander’s insistence on the close relationship of, and narrow borderlines between.
normal sexual activity and pathological sexuality. Anything which helps to modify the emotionally fixed attitude of the general public towards this problem is of value. Treatment is dealt with in the final section of the book, and here the approach is broad and very sound. The psychological background to punitive measures, the sociological and environmental approach, probation, institutional care and psychiatric treatment are all considered both individually and in their much more important mutual relationships. The author does not shirk the difficulties inherent in the psycho-’ analytical treatment of delinquents and few will quarrel with the limitations which she places on it or the value she attributes to it in suitable and selected cases. Those with experience amongst adult chronic offenders may feel that Dr Friedlander has understressed the problem of the psychopathic delinquent, and the value of a psychoanalytical technique (as such) in children of 7 to 10 years may be questioned. In general, however, her suggestions as to selection of suitable material will meet with full approval.
There are a number of minor errors in this book including a bad mis-spelling of ” Pentothal ” and a somewhat confusing use of ” encephalography The text is inset with descriptive sub-headings which make for easy reference and there is an adequate, though rather technically over-weighted, bibliography. This book should prove a valuable introduction for probation officers, social workers and others who are genuinely interested in learning the psychological background of their work, whilst its final insistence on a balanced sound approach to the problem of delinquency would be of value to the magistrate and legislator. T.A.R.
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