Psycholinguistic and socioemotional characteristics of young offenders: Do language abilities and gender matter?

Abstract

Purpose Previous research demonstrates an association between developmental language disorder (DLD) and criminal offending. International research also implicates alexithymia as being over‐represented in forensic samples. This study provides a comprehensive examination of the psycholinguistic and socioemotional profiles of males and females in the youth justice system, with a focus on first‐time entrants. In the context of restorative justice (RJ) underpinning youth justice disposals, this allows for informed intervention and identifies those who may be compromised in their ability to effectively engage in certain interventions. Methods Participants (N = 145) from a triage centre and youth offending teams, with a mean age of 15.8, completed a range of standardized psycholinguistic assessments considering non‐verbal IQ, expressive and receptive language measures, and literacy. Additionally, socioemotional measures completed included The Alexithymia Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Developmental language disorder was present in 87 participants. Except for the emotional score, no statistically significant gender differences were found. The mean language scores for the DLD group were more than 2.25 standard deviations below the normative mean, and they demonstrated greater literacy difficulties. A high proportion of the group met the criteria for alexithymia/possible alexithymia (60%), and this was not associated with DLD. Conclusions High prevalence values for DLD and socioemotional difficulties, not generally gender‐specific, were found. These difficulties have the possibility to compromise a young person's ability to engage in rehabilitative strategies. Language assessment and identification of difficulties, especially DLD, upon entry to the youth justice service, would assist when planning interventions.

Gender Differences in Theory of Mind, Empathic Understanding, and Moral Reasoning in an Offending and a Matched Non-Offending Population

“…Findings have suggested that men are less lingually advanced than their female counterparts (Wallentin, 2020), which is said to be further exaggerated by offending status (Winstanley, Webb, & Conti-Ramsden, 2019). Apperly and Butterfill (2009), and more recently Meinhardt-Injac, Daum, Meinhardt and Persike (2018), noted that reflexive-cognitive processes (language) is required to understand the mental state of another person.…”

“…Language development may offer one explanation as to why an interaction between gender and offending status, in relation to verbal ToM, was found only in the male groups. Findings have suggested that men are less lingually advanced than their female counterparts (Wallentin, 2020), which is said to be further exaggerated by offending status (Winstanley et al, 2019). Apperly and Butterfill (2009), and more recently Meinhardt-Injac et al (2018), noted that reflexive-cognitive processes (language) is required to understand the mental state of another person.…”

Best practice in working with children who have developmental language disorder: a focused review of the current research evidence base (article in English)

“…Recent research has also demonstrated an association between developmental language disorder and criminal offending, even after controlling for potential confounders such as socio-economic position and years of schooling (Bryan et al 2015). Young Offenders (YO) with DLD have been found to have mean language scores of more than 2.25 standard deviations below the normative mean, and they also demonstrate greater literacy and socio-emotional difficulties than the general YO population (Winstanley et al, 2019). These communication difficulties potentially compromise a young person's ability to engage in any offender rehabilitation interventions or strategies.…”

Supporting Young Offenders to Communicate in the Youth Justice System

“…The challenges that YOs with DLD are likely to face when participating in the YJS have been considered from various angles, with numerous studies having assessed particular linguistic or pragmatic skills in YOs that are deemed relevant to YJS interactions. These have included understanding of key legal vocabulary, such as 'caution' and 'penalty' (Sanger, Moore-Brown, Magnuson, & Svoboda, 2001), the ability to correctly interpret non-literal language (Snow & Powell, 2008 and comprehension of longer spoken passages (Gregory & Bryan, 2011;Kippin et al, 2018;Winstanley, Webb, & Conti-Ramsden, 2019). Young offenders' expressive skills have also been thoroughly examined.…”