Social Deviance in Aboriginal Boys

Delinquency is emerging as a serious problem in part-Aboriginal populations, especially in an urban situation. Most illegal activity is not brought to court. The few children who are recognized by law as delinquent form the visible part of an iceberg. Some of these children are committed to training institutions. Probably both chance and social class influence the management of a delinquent child. Twenty-seven Aboriginal boys in a corrective institution were interviewed. Traumatic childhood experiences with parental (especially paternal) deprivation were common; experience of colour or racial discrimination varied; most of the boys had commenced drinking, 12 had some features of a heavy drinking pattern and the influence of paternal drinking pattern was clear. The situation of the Aboriginal boys was viewed in the light of current thought concerning the relationship of racial issues and delinquency. An attempt has been made to synthesize the observed factors in a simple model. On the basis of these considerations the principles of a preventive and control programme emerge.