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In the study of delinquency we can distinguish two fronts of inquiry. I refer to the sociological determinants on the one hand, and to the individual psychological processes on the other. These two fronts of inquiry are essentially different; yet by the very fact that they study the same phenomena, they become readily confused with each other to the detriment of clarity and research. Both aspects are intrinsically and essentially interwoven in each case. However, our understanding of a case would be incomplete as long as we fail to distinguish between the "early unconscious predisposing factors (so-called endopsychic factors)" and the "constitutional and precipitating factors" (Glover, 1956); due to this differentiation it has become customary to speak of latent and manifest delinquency. In this communication I shall restrict myself to a discussion of some predisposing psychodynamic factors as they can be reconstructed from the overt delinquent behavior and supported by the historical data in the case.
Delinquency, by definition of the term, refers to a personality disturbance which manifests itself in open conflict with society. This fact alone has pushed the social aspect of the problem into the forefront, has stimulated sociological research which in turn has thrown light on those environmental conditions which are significantly related to delinquent behavior. My concentration in this paper on the individual process shall not, I hope, be construed as an expression of my disregard for the contribution which sociological