Types Of Delinquency

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, delinquency is the "criminal behavior carried out by juveniles." It can also mean more generally "anti-social behavior," as explained by the University of Montana. In the U.S. and other Western countries, juvenile delinquency is a legal term applied to younger people who carry out particular criminal offenses. However, delinquent behavior is multifaceted and there are distinctive types identified.

Externalizing Disorders

• Externalizing disorders are troublesome attitudes and behaviors of a juvenile, such as lying, cheating, stealing or fire-setting. In this sense, the disorder is socially destructive and affects the relationship between the juvenile and the outside world, whether it's family, friend or teacher. A delinquent might be categorized as being affected by three main types of externalizing disorder.

Opposition Defiant Disorder

• ODD is an externalizing type of delinquency. It's characterized by a continuous sequence of negative behavior by a juvenile. The juvenile might be hostile, defiant, uncooperative, defensive or aggressive, especially toward authority figures such as a parent or guardian. A juvenile with this disorder acts in a certain way; he might lose his temper frequently, argue with adults, defy rules, blame others for his mistakes, be sensitive to personal contact or be angry or vindictive.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• According to research by the University of Montana, ADHD affects between 3 percent and 5 percent of elementary school children. It has three distinctive characteristics: A child might be inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive. As such, the child might be disruptive in the classroom and lack the ability to control emotions and behavior. ADHD has a direct link to the child becoming a delinquent juvenile, and an adult offender later in life. This is due to the inability for the person to recognize boundaries and fit into acceptable social norms.

Conduct Disorder

• Conduct disorder is the biggest reason juveniles are referred to mental health clinics in the U.S. A delinquent is likely to also have symptoms of ODD and ADHD, if she has a conduct disorder. Conduct Disorder is a type of delinquency that relates more strongly to actions, rather than an attitude problem. For example, a delinquent with a conduct disorder might bully or threaten other people, initiate fights, be cruel to animals, set fire to things, be truant before age 13 and stay out late, despite prohibition by parents.

Other Clinical Definitions

• Other clinical definitions of delinquent behavior include childhood anitsocial behavior and internalizing disorder. If a young person has childhood antisocial behavior problems, he is a nuisance for a family, friends or the community. He causes local disruption and possible harm. However, internalizing disorder is a less visible form of delinquency. The youth might isolate himself, be anxious, hypersensitive, withdraw from social activities, lack confidence or have an eating disorder.