Dilemmas and reflections: an observation of violent crimes among vocational school population (VSP) in China

Despite advances in juvenile delinquency prevention, violent offenses involving minors are rising, especially from the vocational school population (VSP) in China. Given this gap, this study utilizes the Frustration-Aggression Theory (FAT) to conduct a quantitative research among 30 VSP individuals who have committed violent crimes and faced punishment. Subsequently, 6 of these participants were selected for in-depth interviews. This research aims to identify the frustration events that may trigger violent crimes committed by VSP. Results indicate that VSP generally experience frustration at the individual, familial, and social levels prior to committing violent crimes. Academic frustration, social interaction, family background, and economic issues have a particularly significant impact on them. This study also successfully identified how the frustrations experienced by VSP influence their choice of tools and victims in violent crimes, thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for research on the prevention of violent crimes within the VSP. The value of this study lies in broadening the application of FAT in explaining violent crime, emphasizing the violent criminal behaviour and underlying causes within the VSP, and offering additional potential pathways for future research on crime governance.