Girls’ relational orientation and interpersonal dynamics of delinquency

Abstract

As noted in a previous chapter, the last decade has witnessed an increase in arrest rates for girls (Chap. 1). Notwithstanding the important issue of whether girls are actually getting more violent, a consequence of these rising rates is long overdue attention to delinquency committed by girls. Unfortunately, many of the theoretical frameworks and intervention models on delinquency (e.g., Patterson et al. 1991; Loeber and Farrington 2001) were based on research of males. Thus, little is known about risk mechanisms specific to girls’ delinquency. Such information is necessary in order to guide prevention and intervention efforts that are responsive to girls’ needs.