Neuropsychological language aspects of adolescents in conflict with the law

Abstract

The following article aims to investigate and evaluate the neuropsychological language aspects of transgressors adolecents in conflict with the law. The study initiated through the application of FAS test (verbal fluency), as also the Vocabulary subtest of Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and the Cloze reading comprehension test. Twenty-five institutionalized adolecents in conflict with the law were selected in Ponta Grossa, Brazil. Also seventeen scholar teenagers on the absence of law conflicts from Curitiba, Brazil, were selected likewise. Either the selected group was male gender. It was identified a statistical significance difference on the FAS test (U = 122,00; p = 0,020), as well as the Vocabulary subtest (U = 108,50; p = 0,008). The adolecents in conflict with the law were compared, such as recidivist and nonrecidivist, however the results did not revel any significcant difference between these aspects. A sample of violations was analysed, involving homicide crimes and crimes with no homicides, and the results indicated a statistical significance difference on the FAS test (U = 35,50; p = 0.037). The presented results from the FAS test and the Vocabulary subtest of adolescents in conflict with law, infer that the low educational standards are not only related with cognitive issues or neuropsychological aspects, regarding the language features. It also requires the exploration others variables. The results also contributes to the literature review of language development, neuropsychological aspects of language and violations, supporting studies concerning forensic and neuropsychology.

Keywords

• linguagem
• adolescente em conflito com a lei
• vocabulário
• fluência verbal
• compreensão leitora