Test of a theory of delinquency: “Delinquent” Behaviors Among Institutionalized Drug Addicts as a Function of Arousal and the Sensation-Seeking Motive

Farley's (1973) arousal/sensation-seeking model of delinquency was tested in part on a sample of adult male institutionalized addicts. The dependent measure was the type of discharge from the institution. Two categories of discharge were employed—a “good” discharge, meaning the subject left the hospital with consent of staff, having completed the program, and a “bad” discharge, meaning one or more serious rule infractions were involved in the discharge. The latter was essentially a delinquent discharge, and the former a normal discharge. Physiological (Reticular Activating System) arousal was measured by the two-flash threshold, and sensation-seeking by the Sensation-Seeking Scale. The prediction from theory that a greater frequency of “bad” discharges would be found in low arousal/high sensation-seeking persons relative to high arousal/low sensation-seeking persons, and that the latter would demonstrate more “good” discharges relative to the former, was significantly (p<.01) supported. The important implications of the environment for this biological approach to delinquency were discussed, and research directions suggested.