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Page 1: Creative Thinking and Juvenile Delinquency: A Study of Delinquent And Non-Delinquent Youth on the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking

The Journal of Creative Behavior

C. MARK ANDERSONGERALD R. STOFFER

Abstract:

Creative Thinking and JuvenileDelinquency: A Study of DelinquentAnd Non-Delinquent Youth on theTorrance Tests of Creative Thinking

The purpose of this research was to determine creative. thinkingabilities as measured by the Figural and Verbal Forms of theTorrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT-Form B) for bothdelinquent (D) male adolescents (N = 32) currently on parolestatus and nondelinquent (ND) male adolescents (N = 32) froma high school population. The variables of intelligence (IQ) andsocioeconomic status (SES) were also examined in relation tocreativity scores in these two groups.

The ND group was superior to the D group in verbal creativitycomposite scores (p < .001) and on each of the verbal subscalesof fluency, flexibility, and originality (all p < .001). Of the 5figural creativity subscales, the ND group was superior to theD group in elaboration (p < .001) but was inferior in fluency(p < .05). Neither IQ nor its interaction with delinquency statusinfluenced either verbal or figural creativity composite scores.Verbal composite scores were significantly greater in the higherSES subjects but SES did not interact with delinquency status.The differences between the figural and verbal composite scoresof the D group was significantly greater than the same differencesfor the ND group.

It was concluded that there are consistent differences betweenthe D and ND groups in verbal but not in figural creativity.These differences do not appear to depend on IQ or SES. Resultswere interpreted as supporting a program of juvenile rehabilita­tion which promotes the expression of figural creativity.

Additional information may be obtained from C. Mark Anderson, Depart­ment of Educational Psychology,322 Miller Hall, University of Washington,Seattle, Washington 98195.

207 Volume J J Number 3 Third Quarter