Terms Starting with "J"

108 terms

J curve

J curve a pattern on a graph that resembles the letter J: There is an initial drop in value for a short period of time followed by a continuous increase. For example, a high achieving person training for a difficult job might show a J curve for performance—his or her performance initially might drop below that of other employees while he or she learns difficult skills but rapidly increase to excellence after the required job skills are fully attained. Also called J-shaped distribution.

J-curve hypothesis

J-curve hypothesis the predicted shape of the distribution of responses in conformity settings, which reflects the fact that most individuals conform to the prescribed norm or act in ways that only slightly deviate from the norm, and few individuals exhibit substantial deviation from the norm. A classic illustration is that of drivers at a stoplight: Most respond by stopping fully, some sharply or moderately reduce speed, and a few do not change speed at all. When graphed, the number of people displaying these different reactions approximates the shape of a letter J. [first proposed in 1934 by Floyd H. Allport]

J-shaped distribution

J-shaped distribution see J curve.

jabberwocky

jabberwocky n. meaningless but grammatically correct writing or speech. [from a nonsense poem in Through the Looking Glass (1871) by British writer Lewis Carroll (1832–1898)]

jackknife

jackknife n. a statistical procedure used to estimate the variability of a parameter associated with a set of data, such as the standard error or confidence interval. It is particularly appropriate when the variance or underlying distribution is not known. A number of samples are obtained from the original data by eliminating one or more observations at a time, the parameter in question is calculated for each sample, and the individual parameters are combined to provide an estimate of the overall parameter for the entire data set. A jackknife is similar to bootstrapping, except that bootstrapping involves replacing observations after they have been sampled, such that after each observation is chosen it is reinserted into the data for possible selection again.

Jackson’s law

Jackson’s law the principle that when cognitive deterioration results from neurological disease, the higher and more recently developed functions are lost first. [John Hughlings Jackson]

jacksonian march

jacksonian march in a simple partial seizure involving motor symptoms, an older name for clonic motor movements in one region or side of the body that start in one muscle group and then move systematically (“march”) to adjacent motor groups. [John Hughlings Jackson]

Jacobson relaxation method

Jacobson relaxation method see progressive relaxation.

Jacobson’s organ

Jacobson’s organ see vomeronasal system. [Ludvig Levin Jacobson (1835–1911), Danish anatomist]

jactatio capitis nocturnis

jactatio capitis nocturnis see head rolling.

jactitation

jactitation n. extreme restlessness marked by frequent movements and tossing about. Also called jactation.

Jakob–Creutzfeldt disease

Jakob–Creutzfeldt disease see Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.

James–Lange theory

James–Lange theory the theory that different feeling states stem from the feedback from the viscera and voluntary musculature to the brain. This theory hypothesizes that there are as many physiological responses as there are different intrapsychic feelings and that each of these responses precedes rather than follows the feeling. [William James; Carl Georg Lange (1834–1900), Danish physiologist]

Janet’s test

Janet’s test a test of tactile sensibility in which participants simply answer yes or no when asked if they feel the touch of the examiner’s fingers. [Pierre Janet]

Janis–Feyerabend hypothesis

Janis–Feyerabend hypothesis the notion that persuasive discourse will be more effective if one first refutes positive arguments on the other side of a question before answering negative attacks on one’s own side. [Irving L. Janis; Paul Karl Feyerabend (1924–1994), Austrian-born U.S. philosopher]

jargon

jargon n. 1. specialized words and forms of language used within a particular profession or field of activity. Although jargon is often unavoidable when dealing with technical or specialist subjects, inappropriate or unnecessary use can alienate outsiders, who find it unintelligible. 2. in prelinguistic children, babbling that sounds like plausible speech but is incomprehensible.

jargon aphasia

jargon aphasia 1. a form of fluent aphasia in which speech is completely meaningless to the listener, whether by violating the rules of syntax and grammar, using the wrong content words (e.g., nouns and verbs), using distorted or invented words (neologistic jargon), or overusing imprecise words (e.g., it, thing) or grammatical words such as articles and prepositions. 2. see word salad.

JAS

JAS abbreviation for Jenkins Activity Survey.

jaundice

jaundice n. a condition associated with a variety of disorders of the liver, gallbladder, and blood and marked by the deposition of bile pigments in the skin, eye surfaces, and excrement. The pigment, which is usually first observed in discoloration of the normally white areas of the eyes, is produced as bilirubin, a breakdown product of the hemoglobin of red blood cells. Jaundice is associated with liver infections but may also occur as an adverse reaction to certain drugs. It is also a causative factor in neurological birth defects (see kernicterus). Also called icterus.

jaw jerk

jaw jerk a reflex test used in the diagnosis of lesions of the corticospinal tract: The examiner taps downward on a person’s lower jaw while it hangs open; if the lesion is present, the jaw closes reflexively. Also called chin reflex; jaw reflex; mandibular reflex; masseter reflex.

JCAHO

JCAHO abbreviation for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. See Joint Commission.

JDI

JDI abbreviation for Job Descriptive Index.

JDS

JDS abbreviation for Job Diagnostic Survey.

jealousy

jealousy n. a negative emotion in which an individual resents a third party for appearing to take away (or being likely to take away) the affections of a loved one. Jealousy requires a triangle of social relationships between three individuals: the one who is jealous, the partner with whom the jealous individual has or desires a relationship, and the rival who represents a preemptive threat to that relationship. Romantic relationships are the prototypic source of jealousy, but any significant relationship (with parents, friends, etc.) is capable of producing it. It differs from envy in that three people are always involved. See also delusional jealousy. —jealous adj.

Jehovah complex

Jehovah complex a form of megalomania in which the individual experiences delusions of grandeur and identifies with qualities associated with God.

Jellinek’s alcoholism species

Jellinek’s alcoholism species a categorization of types (or “species”) of alcoholism defined in 1960 by U.S. physiologist Elvin M. Jellinek (1890–1963). Alpha alcoholism is characterized by undisciplined drinking that disturbs the person’s interpersonal and family relationships and work life, with a reliance on the effects of alcohol to relieve physical or emotional pain, but without a loss of control or an inability to abstain. Beta alcoholism is characterized by serious medical complications (e.g., liver damage, gastritis, nutritional deficiency) associated with undisciplined drinking but does not involve physical or psychological dependence. Gamma alcoholism is characterized by physical and psychological dependence, tolerance, complete loss of control over drinking, and withdrawal symptoms if use is suspended. Jellinek considered this type to be the predominant form of alcoholism in the United States. Delta alcoholism is similar to gamma alcoholism but is distinguished by the person’s inability to abstain, as opposed to complete loss of control over drinking. Epsilon alcoholism is characterized by periodic drinking episodes or binges interspersed with dry periods lasting weeks or months.

Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS)

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Jensenism

Jensenism n. the controversial theory that racial differences in IQ are at least partly heritable and that attempts to raise IQ through environmental interventions have been largely unsuccessful. [Arthur R. Jensen]

jet lag

jet lag a maladjustment of circadian rhythms that results from traveling through several time zones in a short span of time. Rest, work, eating, body temperature, and adrenocortical-secretion cycles may require several days to adjust to local time. See also circadian rhythm sleep disorder.

jiggle cage

jiggle cage in experimental research, a box mounted on springs that records small oscillations caused by the enclosed animal.

jigsaw method

jigsaw method a team-learning technique initially designed to foster a cooperative learning environment that reduces prejudice and social isolation and improves academic achievement. Students work in groups on a content unit. The teacher assigns specific topics in the unit to each group member and allows students with the same topics to leave their group to study the topic with others who have that same assignment. The students then return to their original groups and teach their topics to the other members. Also called jigsaw classroom. [developed in the 1970s by U.S. experimental social psychologist Elliot Aronson (1932– ) and his colleagues]

jimsonweed

jimsonweed n. a poisonous annual weed, Datura stramonium, of the nightshade family that grows wild in temperate and subtropical areas of the world and contains several potent anticholinergic agents, including the alkaloids scopolamine and atropine. It has been taken in small doses to treat asthma, whooping cough, muscle spasms, and other conditions and has also been applied externally for pain relief. Poisoning results in symptoms such as hyperthermia, flushing, dry mucous membranes, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, visual disturbances, hallucinations, delirium, coma, and potentially death; there is often amnesia for the period of intoxication. The name is a corruption of “Jamestown weed,” the name given to the plant by early settlers of Virginia. Also called devil’s trumpet.

jinjinia bemar

jinjinia bemar see koro.

jiryan

jiryan n. a culture-bound syndrome found in India, with symptoms similar to those of shen-k’uei.

jittering

jittering n. deliberately adding a small amount of random noise to each observation in a scatterplot when variables take on relatively few values, resulting in data points that stack of top of each other and thus are hard to interpret. Primarily a data visualization technique, jittering helps separate the points and make it easier to discern a pattern or relationship.

JLO

JLO abbreviation for Judgment of Line Orientation.

JND (jnd)

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job analysis

job analysis the collection and analysis of information about a specific job. Data are obtained through interviews with or written questionnaires from those doing or supervising the job, or through observation or audiovisual recordings of the job in action. Important classes of information include the behaviors, tools, working conditions, and skills involved in the job. Job analysis is the first step in developing effective personnel selection, employee evaluation, job evaluation, and personnel training programs. Once data have been collected, the role of the job analyst is to use statistical techniques and subjective judgment to determine the primary dimensions of a job and to identify those positions that are sufficiently similar to be classified as the same job.

job criterion

job criterion the standard used to evaluate employees on a specific dimension of performance in a job. The criterion usually consists of a supervisor’s rating of employee performance, but objective measures, such as quantity of productivity or absence rate, may also be used. See cutoff score; criterion data; criterion dimensions. See also employee evaluation; job performance.

job description

job description a formal description of a specific job, as supplied by an organization’s human resources department to those holding or applying for the position. Although formats vary, a job description usually comprises three main elements: (a) identification information, including job title, location, and reporting structure (i.e., relations to superiors and subordinates); (b) a brief statement summarizing the purpose of the job; and (c) a more detailed description of job dimensions or of specific duties and responsibilities. The job description is usually compiled through a systematic process of job analysis and can be used in turn as the basis for a personnel specification describing the attributes required to perform the job effectively. Also called job profile.

Job Descriptive Index (JDI)

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job design

job design specification of the content (responsibilities and duties) of a given job with the goal of maximizing both job satisfaction and organizational effectiveness. See also job redesign.

Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS)

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job dimensions

job dimensions 1. the general categories of tasks or duties that define the nature of a particular job, such as clerical duties, receptionist duties, or decision-making responsibilities. In compiling job descriptions, it is customary to define the key dimensions of a job instead of providing an exhaustive list of all the tasks that will be required. 2. general areas of competence, personality traits, or attitudes that are thought to be essential to the performance of a job, such as ambition, attention to detail, or interpersonal skills. These attributes may be included in personnel specifications in addition to more specific skills and qualifications, such as directly related work experience or fluency in a particular language. 3. see job-characteristics model.

job enlargement

job enlargement the expansion of the responsibilities associated with a particular job. In horizontal job enlargement (or horizontal loading), the employee is required to perform a greater number and variety of subtasks of the same level of complexity as his or her existing duties; in vertical job enlargement (or vertical loading), he or she is required to perform more complex tasks and to assume increased responsibility and autonomy.

job enrichment

job enrichment the enhancement of employees’ interest in and attitude toward work tasks by improving their quality of life on the job (see quality of worklife). Job enrichment methods include (a) reducing boredom by giving employees a variety of different tasks and (b) allowing employees to plan their own work activities.

job evaluation

job evaluation analysis and comparison of jobs for the purpose of determining the pay structure within an organization. Methods used in job evaluation include (a) ranking jobs on the basis of a subjective estimation of their relative overall value to the company (see ranking method); (b) assigning jobs to certain predefined classifications on the basis of job description (see classification method); (c) comparing jobs to certain identified benchmark jobs in terms of the compensable job factors entailed; (d) assigning point values to jobs according to a series of defined criteria such as education, experience, and the initiative or effort needed (see point method); and (e) ranking jobs according to a statistical analysis of job content, as revealed by employees’ answers to a standard questionnaire (see job-component method).

job interview

job interview see employment interview.

job involvement

job involvement the degree to which a person psychologically identifies with his or her job. A person who has a high level of job involvement usually obtains major life satisfaction from the job. Job accomplishments lead to a strong sense of pride and self-esteem, whereas failures in the job lead to discontent and depression. See also job satisfaction.

job performance

job performance effectiveness of job-related behavior as measured against a specific criterion of success, such as quantity or quality of output, or against multiple criterion dimensions. See employee evaluation; job criterion; performance review.

job placement

job placement in organizations, the assignment of existing or newly hired employees to the particular jobs for which they are best qualified. Also called personnel placement; selective placement.

job preview

job preview information provided to people applying for a position about what they can expect if they are hired to perform the job. A realistic job preview (RJP) will provide both positive and negative information in an attempt to avoid disillusionment and increase the job tenure of those hired.

job redesign

job redesign systematic efforts to improve work methods, equipment, and the working environment. Major approaches to job redesign include methods analysis, which focuses on the development of efficient work methods; human factors engineering, which is primarily concerned with the design of equipment, facilities, and environments; and job enlargement or job enrichment, which aim to expand the variety, complexity, and responsibility of jobs.

job requirements

job requirements the personal qualities or skills that are necessary for performing work tasks safely and effectively. Job requirements may include, for example, good verbal communication skills, the ability to drive a truck, or the ability to perform complex mathematical calculations. They are normally identified in the personnel specification for a job.

job rotation

job rotation an employment practice in which workers are required to perform different duties on a regularly scheduled basis, usually as a means of increasing their motivation and developing their skills.

job satisfaction

job satisfaction the attitude of a worker toward his or her job, often expressed as a hedonic response of liking or disliking the work itself, the rewards (pay, promotions, recognition), or the context (working conditions, colleagues). See also job involvement.

job sharing

job sharing a flexible work option in which two people voluntarily share a single full-time position and are compensated according to the proportion of work each performs. Job sharing schedules can take the form of half-days, alternate days, or alternate weeks but generally have minimal overlap of individual work schedules.

job specification

job specification see personnel specification.

job tenure

job tenure 1. the length of time an employee spends in a position. See turnover. 2. in certain professions, such as academia, a guarantee of lifelong employment. Also called tenure.

job-characteristics model

job-characteristics model a model that attempts to characterize the basic parameters of a job as they affect the psychological state of the employee, especially with regard to motivation. The five core job dimensions are identified as skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback. The model holds that work motivation, job performance, and job satisfaction will all be improved if jobs are designed or redesigned to maximize these dimensions. See Job Diagnostic Survey. See also job enlargement; job enrichment. [proposed by J. Richard Hackman and U.S. organizational behaviorist Greg R. Oldham (1947– )]

job-component method

job-component method a job-evaluation technique based on the assumption that similarities in job content impose similar demands on the employees and therefore warrant corresponding pay scales. The job-component method is often applied through a statistical analysis of data obtained from a Position Analysis Questionnaire. Compare classification method; factor-comparison method; point method; ranking method.

job-component validity

job-component validity a synthetic validity method of estimating the ability of a test battery to predict suitability for a particular job that involves use of the Position Analysis Questionnaire.

job-placement stage

job-placement stage a level of rehabilitation and work-preparedness training at which a person with a disability is presumed to be ready to move into the competitive job market. Rehabilitation personnel may assist individuals with tasks such as filling out job applications and preparing for job interviews (see placement counseling).

job-safety analysis

job-safety analysis a specialized form of task analysis used to identify and control operating hazards in the workplace. It involves defining the job, identifying required tasks, identifying hazards, and making recommendations to eliminate or control the hazards. Also called job-hazard analysis. See also accident analysis; accident-path model; failure modes and effects analysis; fault tree analysis.

Jocasta complex

Jocasta complex in psychoanalytic theory, an abnormally close or incestuous attachment of a mother to her son. It is named for Jocasta, the mother and wife of Oedipus in Greek mythology. Compare Oedipus complex.

Johari window

Johari window a model used to evaluate the extent of open and authentic communication between individuals. It is an imaginary window with four panes that each represent a dimension of knowledge about a person: (a) The open pane contains information about the person that is known both to the person and to others, (b) the blind pane contains information about the person that is known only to others, (c) the hidden pane contains information about the person that is known only to the person, and (d) the unknown pane contains information about the person that is known neither to the person nor to others. The goal is to increase the amount of information about the self that is known both to the self and to others. [devised in the 1950s by U.S. psychologist Joseph Luft and U.S. psychiatrist Harrington V. Ingham]

John Henry effect

John Henry effect an effect in which rivalry between a control group and an experimental group leads to competitive efforts that disturb the whole basis of the experiment. It is a particular danger in industrial psychology experiments that attempt to compare the outputs of groups working under different task conditions. The term derives from the legend of John Henry, a railroad steel driver who worked himself to death with a steam drill.

Johnson v. Louisiana

Johnson v. Louisiana a case resulting in an influential 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision establishing that there is no constitutional requirement that juries be unanimous in their verdict for crimes that are not punishable by death. The court concluded that permitting a majority verdict does not violate due process rights.

joint attention

joint attention attention overtly focused by two or more people on the same object, person, or action at the same time, with each being aware of the other’s interest. Joint attention is an important developmental tool. Infants of around 9 months old can follow their parents’ gaze and begin to imitate what their parents do. By thus focusing attention on an object as well as on the adult’s reaction to it, children can learn about the world. This technique is also used in primate studies (see enculturation). Also called shared attention.

Joint Commission

Joint Commission a national, private, nonprofit organization, founded in 1951, whose purpose is to encourage the attainment of uniformly high standards of institutional medical care. Formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), it changed to its present name in 2007. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits hospitals and health care organizations that provide managed care (including HMOs, PPOs, and integrated delivery systems), home care, long-term care, behavioral health care, laboratory services, and ambulatory care services.

joint distribution

joint distribution the pattern of values obtained when estimating the probability of occurrence of two or more random variables. For example, the probability values for drawing a heart and a jack in a deck of cards would form the following joint distribution: (13/52) × (48/52) to obtain a heart but not a jack; (39/52) × (48/52) to obtain a nonheart and a nonjack; (39/52) × (4/52) to obtain a nonheart and a jack; and (13/52) × (4/52) to obtain a heart that is also a jack. A joint distribution for two variables is referred to more specifically as a bivariate distribution, whereas a joint distribution for more than two variables is called a multivariate distribution.

joint probability

joint probability the chance that two events will occur simultaneously. For example, the joint probability of drawing a heart that is a jack from a deck of 52 cards is equal to (13/52) × (4/52), or 1/52. See also joint distribution.

joke

joke n. a story or remark that is intended to provoke laughter. See humor; incongruity theory of humor.

joking mania

joking mania see Witzelsucht.

JOL

JOL abbreviation for judgment of learning.

Jonah complex

Jonah complex in the humanistic psychology of Abraham Maslow, inhibition of becoming fully self-actualized—that is, of fulfilling one’s potential—for fear of facing new challenges and situations. It is named for the biblical prophet Jonah, who attempted to evade the mission imposed on him by God. See also fear of success.

Jost’s law

Jost’s law the principle that the newer of two associations of equal strength will show more loss over time than will the older association. [Adolph Jost (1874–1920), German psychologist]

jouissance

jouissance n. in the theory of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan (1901–1981), enjoyment or pleasure that goes beyond mere satisfaction of an instinct. Such pleasure is seen as a subversive and destabilizing force. The term was later adopted by literary and philosophical critics in the traditions of deconstruction and poststructuralism. [French, literally: “enjoyment,” “pleasure”]

joy

joy n. a feeling of extreme gladness, delight, or exultation of the spirit arising from a sense of well-being or satisfaction. The feeling of joy may take two forms: passive and active. Passive joy involves tranquility and a feeling of contentment with things as they are. Active joy involves a desire to share one’s feelings with others. It is associated with more engagement of the environment than is passive joy. The distinction between passive and active joy may be related to the intensity of the emotion, with active joy representing the more intense form. Both forms of joy are associated with an increase in energy and feelings of confidence and self-esteem.

judge-made law

judge-made law see common law.

judgment

judgment n. 1. the capacity to recognize relationships, draw conclusions from evidence, and make critical evaluations of events and people. 2. in psychophysics, the ability to determine the presence or relative magnitude of stimuli.

judgment of learning (JOL)

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Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO)

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judgment sampling

judgment sampling selecting a group from which to gather data on the basis of personal opinion as to what is representative of the population under study. For example, judgment sampling could involve choosing a number of well-informed people from different social groups and asking them who they believe will be the next U.S. president. The outcome from such a study may well not be consistent with the result of asking a random sample from the population. This means that although judgment sampling may be useful in a pilot study, it generally does not result in warranted inference to any population of interest. See deliberate sampling.

Juke

Juke n. pseudonym of a family in New York, seven generations of which were studied by U.S. social scientist Richard Lewis Dugdale (1841–1883), with findings reported in 1877. He claimed that the study showed relationships between prostitution and illegitimacy, resulting in neglected offspring, and between exhaustion and alcohol consumption, resulting in criminality and inability to make sound judgments. This study, which drew from and contributed to social Darwinism, stimulated many further studies throughout the early 20th century. These later studies erroneously claimed to identify linkages between immorality and intellectual deficits and ignored conclusions by Dugdale that environmental factors were significant.

jumping Frenchmen of Maine syndrome

jumping Frenchmen of Maine syndrome a culture-bound syndrome resembling latah, observed in lumberjacks of French Canadian descent living in Quebec and Maine. It is characterized by an extreme startle response involving yelling, imitative speech and behavior, involuntary jumping, flinging of the arms, and command obedience. Also called jumper disease of Maine; jumping disease. See also imu; myriachit.

jumping stand

jumping stand a type of apparatus formerly used to study discriminations. Rats were placed on a stand and had to obtain food by jumping through doors on a platform some distance away. Usually two doors were present, each displaying a distinctive stimulus. Jumping through one door (designated as correct) led to food. Jumping toward the other door, which was locked, led to a fall into a net. The apparatus has been abandoned because too many variables were left uncontrolled.

juncture

juncture n. a set of phonological features (usually a combination of pause and stress) that signals the boundary between words or word elements, so that, for example, a nice cream van can be distinguished from an ice cream van.

Jungian psychology

Jungian psychology the psychoanalytical theory and approach to psychotherapy of Carl Jung. See analytic psychology.

Jungian typology

Jungian typology a theory of personality that classifies individuals into types according to (a) attitudes of introversion and extraversion (see attitudinal types) and (b) the dominant functions of the psyche (see functional types). [Carl Jung]

junk science

junk science invalid or fraudulent research findings, especially when admitted into court. Junk science is a cause of concern because judges, attorneys, and juries often lack the scientific training to identify unsound research.

junkie

junkie n. slang for a drug addict, especially a heroin addict.

jurisprudential teaching model

jurisprudential teaching model a teaching model that emphasizes the role of social interaction and uses case studies as a paradigm for information processing and evaluating social issues.

jury consultant

jury consultant see trial consultant.

jury nullification

jury nullification a jury’s decision to exonerate a defendant who has clearly committed a criminal act. This can occur when the members of the jury believe that to find the defendant guilty would be unfair or unjust or would demand a sentence (e.g., death penalty) with which the jurors do not wish to be associated.

jury pool

jury pool see venire.

just noticeable difference (JND; jnd)

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just noticeable duration

just noticeable duration the duration for a comparison stimulus that is just perceptibly shorter or longer than the duration of a standard stimulus. Also called least perceptible duration.

just-noticeable-differences method

just-noticeable-differences method see method of just noticeable differences.

just-world hypothesis

just-world hypothesis the idea that the world is a fair and orderly place where what happens to people generally is what they deserve. In other words, bad things happen to bad people, and good things happen to good people. This view enables an individual to confront his or her physical and social environments as though they were stable and predictable but may, for example, result in the belief that the innocent victim of an accident or attack must somehow be responsible for or deserve it. Also called belief in a just world; just-world bias; just-world phenomenon. [postulated by Canadian psychologist Melvin J. Lerner (1929– )]

justice

justice n. the impartial and fair settlement of conflict and differences, typically by legal process and the imposition of proportionate punishment. See also commonsense justice; procedural justice; restorative justice.

justification

justification n. 1. in ethics, the process of determining right actions and appropriate beliefs. 2. in clinical psychology, defensive intellectualization, as in making an excuse for an action, cognition, or affect that one knows to be or is considered to be wrong or indefensible. 3. in epistemology, a concept of intellectual responsibility regarding the norms of belief about ideas, actions, emotions, claims, theories, and so forth.

juvenile delinquency

juvenile delinquency illegal behavior by a minor (usually identified as a person younger than 18 years) that would be considered criminal in an adult. Examples are vandalism, theft, rape, arson, and aggravated assault.

juvenile justice system

juvenile justice system the courts and other government entities involved in the adjudication of cases involving minors (usually identified as individuals younger than 18 years). Fundamentally, it differs from the criminal justice system for adults in its belief that young people are more amenable to treatment than adults. Consequently, there is greater emphasis on rehabilitation, and greater efforts are made than in the adult system to reduce the stigmatization associated with being labeled a criminal.

juvenile period

juvenile period the period when an animal is no longer dependent on its parents for survival but is not yet sexually active. In nonhuman mammals, this constitutes the time between the cessation of weaning (the end of infancy) and the onset of sexual activity.

juvenile transfer hearing

juvenile transfer hearing a formal presentation and assessment of facts during which the court decides whether a minor should be transferred to an adult court for adjudication.

juvenile-onset diabetes (juvenile diabetes)

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juvenilism

juvenilism n. a sexual attraction to children or adolescents. See ephebophilia; pedophilia.

Psychology Terms Starting With 'J'