Causes of Junvenile Delinquency
Causes of Juvenile Delinquency and Crime
Aim
This report aims to explore the relationship between juvenile delinquency and poor parenting and their failure to teach norms and values. It will also address other aspects of influence, including; peer pressure, mass media, poverty and the actions of the juvenile justice system.
Theory
Through this report, the following theory will be tested;
“There is a link between juvenile delinquency, poor parenting and their failure to teach norms and values.”
Literature Review
It is commonly acknowledged that crime ‘is an act of which breaks the criminal law of society’. Juvenile delinquency, also known as youth crime, ‘is the participation in illegal behaviour by a minor’. Crime is committed due to various reasons such as; the lack of family norms and values and peer pressure. The family unit plays the primary role of socialisation in the development of a child and it is the parents’ responsibility to teach the norms and values which are expected of them.
Many sociologists believe that ‘youth’ and ‘crime’ are socially constructed. According to Wilson and Hermstein (1985); inherited traits combined with environmental factors produce crime. In other words; the social factors and situations in which a child is brought up in, may influence their actions and choices, in their adolescent years.
Brym and Lie (2003) believe that, ‘early childhood experiences bear a lasting impression on the individual unique personality, that everyone develops’. This is supported by Hickey (1991) who considers that, stress caused in childhood may trigger an individual to resort to criminal behaviour and in the future, if the individual does not have the ability to cope with the stress, then they may turn to serious crimes.
Although some sociologists believe that what happens during primary socialisation is the key cause; others argue that there are many other factors which may contribute to the instigation of juvenile delinquency and crime.
Aim
This report aims to explore the relationship between juvenile delinquency and poor parenting and their failure to teach norms and values. It will also address other aspects of influence, including; peer pressure, mass media, poverty and the actions of the juvenile justice system.
Theory
Through this report, the following theory will be tested;
“There is a link between juvenile delinquency, poor parenting and their failure to teach norms and values.”
Literature Review
It is commonly acknowledged that crime ‘is an act of which breaks the criminal law of society’. Juvenile delinquency, also known as youth crime, ‘is the participation in illegal behaviour by a minor’. Crime is committed due to various reasons such as; the lack of family norms and values and peer pressure. The family unit plays the primary role of socialisation in the development of a child and it is the parents’ responsibility to teach the norms and values which are expected of them.
Many sociologists believe that ‘youth’ and ‘crime’ are socially constructed. According to Wilson and Hermstein (1985); inherited traits combined with environmental factors produce crime. In other words; the social factors and situations in which a child is brought up in, may influence their actions and choices, in their adolescent years.
Brym and Lie (2003) believe that, ‘early childhood experiences bear a lasting impression on the individual unique personality, that everyone develops’. This is supported by Hickey (1991) who considers that, stress caused in childhood may trigger an individual to resort to criminal behaviour and in the future, if the individual does not have the ability to cope with the stress, then they may turn to serious crimes.
Although some sociologists believe that what happens during primary socialisation is the key cause; others argue that there are many other factors which may contribute to the instigation of juvenile delinquency and crime.