(2 of 2)
Cut the Odds. Johnny is slated for serious trouble, no matter what his intelligence, skin color or family income. His chances of becoming delinquent: nine out of ten. To head him off, the best efforts of school, church or social workers must be extraordinary. They can be successful, the Gluecks hope, if even two of the five highly decisive factors are altered, so that Johnny's delinquency chances are reduced to six out of ten. "For instance, if the efforts of the social worker were to change the father's typical discipline of the boy from 'overstrict' or 'erratic' to 'firm but kindly,' and the mother's supervision from 'unsuitable' to 'suitable,' the resultant delinquency probability would be cut." Johnny might then be on the way to the best guarantee against delinquency—firm and friendly parents who get along well with each other and with their son.