JD group had a higher rate of working in a job, repeating a grade, receiving disciplinary
penalties, and having a family member with a criminal record. However, the family
income level was lower. No statistically significant differences were found between
the two groups in terms of scores on the Eyes Test for Mind Reading (ETMR), faul
pax-control stories, KASI Empathy Tendency Scale (KASI-ETS), CallousUnemotional Traits Screening Scale (ICU-TR), and Violent Tendency Scale (VTS).
When the JD group was divided into four subgroups based on the type of offense
(solely sexual, solely substance-related, solely property-related, and assault-mixed),
only a significant difference was observed in terms of violent tendencies. Specifically,
children who committed substance-related crimes and assault-mixed crimes had higher
VTS scores compared to those who committed solely sexual and solely substancerelated offenses. When comparing all children’s scores on the scales, a low negative
correlation was found between empathy and callous-unemotional traits, and a
moderate positive correlation was found between callous-unemotional traits and
violent tendencies.
Conclusion: Our findings show that there is no difference in violent tendencies
between juvenile delinquents (JD) and the healthy control group. However, in the JD
group, empathy levels may impact callous-unemotional traits and, in turn, violent
tendencies. The most significant difference between children led into crime and the
healthy control group lies in socio-demographic factors related to upbringing. Factors
such as low income, school non-attendance, early employment, and a family history
of criminal behavior should be considered and assessed as potential risk factors in the
process of children being led into crime. Further research involving larger samples and
distinguishing children based on psychiatric conditions could shed light on factors that
may influence these processes in JD.
Keywords: Juvenile delinquents, social cognition, empathy, callous-unemotional
traits, violent tendency
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