Cognitions of Lihuanian juvenile offenders.

Abstract

The question of juvenile crime prevention is still complicated in Lithuania as well as in other EU countries. There are many studies on “what works” in preventing criminal behavior and its recurrence. In this study we tried to explore the inner cognitive patterns of juvenile offenders that might contribute to their problematic behavior, focusing on their basic beliefs and cognitive schemas as this aspect has not been explored comprehensively yet. The study showed that in compare to secondary school students, juvenile offenders hold less favorable beliefs towards self, the world, and their relationships with other people. A strong negative reciprocity between these beliefs and early maladaptive schemas has been found.