Mapping of human values and life projects of young offenders in the distrito federal, Brazil

Juvenile delinquency is a worldwide social problem. Understanding your motivations can be a path to social integration. This study aimed to map the values and life projects of young offenders in order to develop a pedagogical intervention to promote prosocial values. A sample of 404 adolescents complying with a judicial restraint measure in the Distrito Federal, Brazil answered the survey. All were men, with mean age of 17.26 years (Sd = 1.25), with an average school delay of 4 years, originating from regions of greater social vulnerability. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Multidimensional Scaling confirmed the theoretical model: Stress-1 = 0.141; DAF = 0.980; TCC = 0.990. The predominant values of the sample were: Self-transcendence (4.61) and Openness to Change (4.63). The Descending Hierarchical Classification of the text segments of answers to open-ended questions about Dreams / Life Projects and Repentance / Counseling suggested that subjects wanted to gain training to have a profession, personal fulfillment and life improvement; and expressed dismay at the achievement of these dreams and projects. These results are in line with studies on values and youth and point to the importance of pedagogical interventions that collaborate in the social reintegration of these young people.