Znaczenie zmiennych psychologicznych w naruszaniu norm prawa karnego przez nieletnich

The paper has a theoretical-empirical character. In its theoretical part, the concept of a juvenile delinquent has been explained with respect to the following criteria: demoralisation, commitment of criminal acts, the use of educational and corrective means. Furthermore, dimensions of the sense of life as psychological variables have been pinpointed. They have a considerable impact on the formation of human behaviour. In the empirical part some results of research on the sense of life in the juvenile delinquents have been shown. The research was conducted in two groups: among 30 juvenile delinquents (group I) who were on probation (due to their criminal records), and among 30 boys with positive social adjustment (group II). The measurement of the sense of life was conducted by means of J.C. Crumbaugh's and L.T. Maholick's Purpose-in-Life Test (PIL). The results allow us to state that juvenile delinquents find it difficult to take responsibility for their own lives. This is mainly due to the external source of control. Additionally, juvenile delinquents in conflict with criminal law have problems to determine their goals in life, make decisions, and affirm their life. Moreover, they tend to make negative self-assessment and adopt a negative attitude towards their life. This often coincides with suicidal thoughts. The above regularities deal with the sense of life in adolescents violating the norms of criminal law. They should be the grounds for rehabilitation addressed at this group. The application of psychological strategies in the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents should serve, above all, the enhancement of the sense of self-control and responsibility for their own behaviour, the establishment of goals in life, and should help them make adequate self-assessment.