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Psychology and Law
2026. Vol. 16, no. 1, 83–101
doi:10.17759/psylaw.2026160106
ISSN: 2222-5196 (online)

Clinical and psychological characteristics of adolescents who committed sabotage-related acts

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. Despite a decline in juvenile delinquency over recent decades, the number of sabotage acts committed by minors has increased sharply in recent years. This phenomenon and its contributing factors are discussed by legal scholars primarily from the perspective of criminal law qualification and prevention. However, little attention has so far been paid to the clinical and psychological characteristics of minors, and the subjective aspects of the commission of such crimes have been largely overlooked. Objective. To describe the clinical and psychological characteristics of minors involved by adult organizers in the commission of sabotage activities. Methods. A qualitative descriptive analysis of the mental state and development of minors, the mechanisms of their involvement in sabotage activities, and the leading motivations underlying adolescents’ actions was conducted. The study was based on materials from comprehensive forensic psychological and psychiatric examinations (CFPPE) of minors who committed acts of sabotage. Results. The study analyzes legal scholars’ views on the problem of sabotage committed by minors and identifies key positions regarding the age of criminal responsibility, criminal law qualification, and prevention of such acts. Using empirical data from CFPPE, information is presented on the presence of mental disorders in some examinees, as well as on potential and actual factors contributing to minors’ involvement in sabotage activities. A distinct category of adolescents who committed destructive acts under conditions of deception and manipulation mediated by digital devices is identified; factors influencing their behavior and the possibilities for legal qualification of such acts are discussed. The role of expert examinations in obtaining information necessary for criminal law assessment and preventive work is described. Conclusions. A differentiated approach to the legal assessment and prevention of sabotage-related actions is required, taking into account the clinical and psychological characteristics of the adolescents who commit them. Comprehensive forensic psychological and psychiatric examinations of juvenile defendants represent an important tool for such differentiation. Special attention should be paid to the training of qualified specialists for conducting expert assessments.

General Information

Keywords: juvenile accuseds, sabotage, terrorist act, mechanisms of involvement in destructive activities, psychopathological factors, psychological factors, comprehensive forensic psychological and psychiatric examination, prevention

Journal rubric: Methodological Problems of Legal Psychology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2026160106

Funding. The study was carried out within the framework of the research work “Development of comprehensive models of clinical and psychological diagnostics, examination, prevention, interdepartmental interaction when working with children and adolescents in the context of crimes committed in the information environment and cyberspace” (2023—2025), carried out by the V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (reg. no. NIОКТR 123022000056-7).

Received 25.12.2025

Revised 10.01.2026

Accepted

Published

For citation: Dozortseva, E.G., Badmaeva, V.D., Kastalskaya-Borozdina, A.A., Fedonkina, A.A., Chibisova, I.A. (2026). Clinical and psychological characteristics of adolescents who committed sabotage-related acts. Psychology and Law, 16(1), 83–101. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2026160106

© Dozortseva E.G., Badmaeva V.D., Kastalskaya-Borozdina A.A., Fedonkina A.A., Chibisova I.A., 2026

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Elena G. Dozortseva, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Professor, Department of Legal Psychology and Law, Faculty of Legal Psychology, Moscow State University of psychology and education, Senior Researcher, Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Psychology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation,Member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Psychology and Law” member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Psychological Science and Education”, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1309-0485, e-mail: edozortseva@mail.ru

Valentina D. Badmaeva, Doctor of Medicine, Head of the Department for Social and Forensic Psychiatric Problems of Minors, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2345-3091, e-mail: badmaeva.v@serbsky.ru

Aleksandra A. Kastalskaya-Borozdina, Researcher, Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Psychology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3646-9208, e-mail: aleksandra.kastbor@mail.ru

Anastasia A. Fedonkina, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Psychology, Federal state budgetary institution «Serbsky Federal medical research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology» of the Ministry of healthcare of the Russian Federation, Senior Researcher, Federal Coordinating Center for the Provision of Psychological Services in the Education System (MSUPE), Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0313-5272, e-mail: afedonkina@gmail.com

Irina A. Chibisova, Candidate of Science (Medicine), Head of the Department of Forensic Psychiatric Examination and Social Psychiatry of Children and Adolescents of the Department of Social and Forensic Psychiatric Problems of Minors, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8822-5607, e-mail: chibis-irena@mail.ru

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