Family Structure And Juvenile Delinquency
There is an abundance of research that examines the impact of family structure on delinquency. The majority of research finds that children from broken homes report increased levels of delinquency. In order to examine this issue in depth we must ask ourselves, “What provokes a child to become negligent and what makes the child gravitate so easily towards this lifestyle?” Adolescents are more likely to become juvenile delinquents if there is little family structure provided for them. This study explores how family life influences juvenile delinquency.
Although there are several prominent variables when it comes to juvenile delinquency, the main theme I will be focusing on is single-parent vs. two-parent households. This is a crucial aspect to …show more content…
They teach children to control unacceptable behavior, to delay gratification, and to respect the rights of others. On the other hand, families can teach children aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior (Wright & Wright 1994). This statement alone could easily explain how the juvenile may end up becoming a delinquent. Wright and Wright (1994) suggest positive parenting practices during the early years and later in adolescence appear to act as shields, preventing delinquent behavior and assisting adolescents involved in such behavior to abstain from delinquency.
Adolescence is a time of expanding vulnerabilities and opportunities that accompany the widening social and geographic exposure to life beyond school or family, but it starts with the family. A substantial number of children participate in delinquency. Antisocial and/or aggressive behaviors may begin as early as preschool or in the first few grades of elementary school. Such childhood misconduct tends to be resistant to …show more content…
Familial characteristics suggesting familial antisocial behavior or values such as family history of criminal behavior, harsh parental discipline, and family conflict have been among the most consistently linked. In another study conducted by Gorman-Smith and her colleagues, data show that children are more likely to resort to violence if there is violence within relationships that they may share with their family (Gorman-Smith, et al.
Although there are several prominent variables when it comes to juvenile delinquency, the main theme I will be focusing on is single-parent vs. two-parent households. This is a crucial aspect to …show more content…
They teach children to control unacceptable behavior, to delay gratification, and to respect the rights of others. On the other hand, families can teach children aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior (Wright & Wright 1994). This statement alone could easily explain how the juvenile may end up becoming a delinquent. Wright and Wright (1994) suggest positive parenting practices during the early years and later in adolescence appear to act as shields, preventing delinquent behavior and assisting adolescents involved in such behavior to abstain from delinquency.
Adolescence is a time of expanding vulnerabilities and opportunities that accompany the widening social and geographic exposure to life beyond school or family, but it starts with the family. A substantial number of children participate in delinquency. Antisocial and/or aggressive behaviors may begin as early as preschool or in the first few grades of elementary school. Such childhood misconduct tends to be resistant to …show more content…
Familial characteristics suggesting familial antisocial behavior or values such as family history of criminal behavior, harsh parental discipline, and family conflict have been among the most consistently linked. In another study conducted by Gorman-Smith and her colleagues, data show that children are more likely to resort to violence if there is violence within relationships that they may share with their family (Gorman-Smith, et al.