The aim of this study is to assess psychological functioning of juvenile delinquents via projective tests in terms of their symbolic capacity. Experimental group of the study consists of 32 teenage boys between 14-17 age range who are dragged into robbery and arrested in Maltepe Çocuk ve Gençlik Kapalı Ceza İnfaz Kurumu (Maltepe Juvenile Detention Center). As to control group, it consists of 32 teenage boys between 14-17 age range matched with the experimental group in terms of age and socioeconomic characteristic who are not dragged into any criminal act and do not have any psychiatric request. A demographic information form was completed with participants, psychoanalytic-oriented pre-interview was made; and then Rorschach and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) were applied to the participants. Each two group was compared in terms of concept formation and phantasying capacity, symbolization of impulses and affects, impulsivity level and problematic of acting out. As a result of statistical analysis and content analysis, it is determined that due to disturbance in early period of mother-infant relationship symbolization capacity of juvenile delinquents is inadequate and they have a difficulty in concepting their impulses and affects into process. In addition to this, it was seen that impulsive explosion as an opposition of symbolization and finding of acting out is prominent in the content analysis.