Childhood Maltreatment Analysis

Recent research has shown that childhood mistreatment is linked to the development of delinquencies. In the article, “Understanding the Link between Childhood Maltreatment and Violent Delinquency: What does Schools Have to Add?”, by Crooks, Scott, Wolfe, Chiodo, and Killip, they have centered their research around the development of delinquent behavior due to child maltreatment. Using a Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and a few other questions they were able to identify those who were introduced to domestic violence. They also explored the community and school aspect of the development of delinquency to pin down whether or not it is a factor in delinquency. They combined qualitative and quantitative methods during the interview process, resulting in them finding that male subjects who went through maltreatment during their childhood were more likely to demonstrate the delinquent behavior. Also, they found that the school, as well as parents or guardians, play a role in the onset of delinquent behavior.
The article by Stuewig and McCloskey, “The Relation of Child Maltreatment to Shame and Guild among Adolescent”, focused on the different forms of maltreatment in the childhood as well as parenting that lead to delinquency. However, they found that the emotions of a child during
their childhood were more related to depression and delinquency, although they are not directly linked to delinquency but they play a role in the development of the behavior. On the other hand, youth that lived and grew up in a neighborhood with several shortcomings, where there were gangs and prominent evidence of crimes are more presented with the option of delinquent behavior. (Dupere, Lacourse, Williams, Viatro, Tremblay, 2007)
In the article, “Affiliation to youth Gangs during Adolescence” studied the correlation between the neighborhood with shortcomings and youth, and if the exposure they receive in their childhood is related to the onset of delinquency. They surveyed different gang members in neighborhoods who have a clear view of having neighborhood shortcomings and see if they were influenced by their environment and record their current status within their community. They found that the youth who grew up in the areas that had shortcoming were more likely to entertain the idea of joining a gang and practice delinquent offenses. They also found that individuals who lived in a single parent home, who have less guardianship then most are more likely to experience delinquent behavior during their youth. This research help supports my hypotheses that neighborhood shortcomings and parental monitoring do contribute to the onset of juvenile delinquency.
While looking at the different factors of how delinquency can come about G.M, Sykes and Matza stated in Techniques of neutralization: A theory of delinquency that “It is now largely agreed that delinquent behavior, like most social behavior, is learned in the process of social interaction.” (Sykes, G.
M., & Matza, D., pg. 664). This statement is supported by Sutherland’s theory of differential association, which determines that delinquent behavior involves the learning of motivations, crimes, validation, and they have to want to violate the law. They argue that individuals who participate in these delinquent offenses are set in thinking that what they are doing is right like they are
martyrs.
Furthermore, several researchers focus on the trends found when looking at delinquency. Robert Agnew suggests in his book, “Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Control”, that the attributing factors are surrounded by family factors, school factors, and their peers. They look further into the effects of the factors and the influence it has on an individual in their youth especially if they see it every day and live with it. They conclude that there are certain characteristics that promote crime within shortcoming neighborhoods, such as residential instability, family disruption, and the proximity to the high crime or economically deprived individuals who live in the community.