本研究之主要目的在於探討不同性別與犯罪與否之青少年在刺激尋求與社會能力方面的差異情形。在刺激尋求之評量上，以Zuckerman所編第五版本的「刺激尋求量表」為工具，在社會能力之評量上，分別以受試者自評的「社會技巧評量表」、班級導師評走的「學生班級社會行為評量表」與青少年互評的「社會關係調查表」為工具。本研究以中部五所高中、高職與國中的8班學生(男生174人，女生225人)，以及台灣彰化少年輔育院的5班學生(男生109人，女生50人)為研究對象。所得資料經以二因子變異數分析、單因子變異數分析與卡方考驗加以分析。本研究之主要發現有下列各項：(一)一般男性青少年的刺激尋求程度顯著高於一般女性青少年，但犯罪女性青少年的刺激尋求程度則顯著高於一般女性青少年。(二)犯罪青少年的社會技巧比一般青少年為差。(三)不同性別一般青少年在班級社會行為之得分上有顯著差異；犯罪男性青少年的社會行為比犯罪女性青少年為差。(四)不同社會關係組別的受試者其刺激尋求沒有顯著差異。

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the sensation seeking and social competence of youngers and to analyze the differences between juvenile delinquents and non-juvenile delinquents on sensation seeking and social competence. Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale, Form V, Social Skills Scale, Social Behaviors Scale, and Sociometry were the instruments used in the study. Subjects included 399 non-juvenile delinquents randomly drawn from five high schools located in Taichung area and 159 juvenile delinquents of Changhua Training School for Juvenile Delinquent. The main findings in the study were: 1.The sensation seeking of male non-juvenile delinquents" was higher than those of female non-juvenile delinquents. 2. Male subjects had better social skills than female subjects. 3. Whereas male non-juvenile delinquents had better social behaviors in the classroom, male juvenile delinquents had worse social behaviors in the classroom evaluated by teachers. 4. There were no significant sensation seeking among different social statuses of subjects.