Life Course Theory - Research Paper Example

? Life Theory s Life Theory Introduction Life theory is the multidisciplinary model that attempts to investigate how people live, their structural background and social variations. This model entails opinions and views, preferably demographical, economical, sociological and growth Psychology. Specifically, it shifts its attention to the authoritative link amidst personal lives and the contextual and social economical events which these personal lives attempt to reveal (Glen, Johnson & Crosnoe, 2003). The life course theory can best be internalized by analyzing life occurrences in respect to stages in lives, turning points and routes which are all engraved in the social school of thought. This ranges from personal traits, the environment around the person, educational differences and the family or community status. Ingredients of Building a Criminal The emergence of a criminal is attributed to two main sources of influence on the life of an individual: transitions and trajectories. A transition comprises of the periodical short lived occurrences or decisive moments that create a particular life change like parenthood, marriage or divorce (Glen, Johnson & Crosnoe, 2003). Trajectories on the other hand refers to a route over the course of life which entails long lasting trends or patterns of occurrences like the history of the family and state of employment. Notably, there is a key role played by transitions in the course of oncoming trajectories (Heather and Farrington, 2001). Adaptation of an individual to a specific transition can result into change of course of the person’s life into a respective trajectory. Childhood experiences can have a great impact on occurrences in the adolescent stage and later into adulthood the same manner adolescence or adulthood events can shape later trajectories. If a child is exposed to too much criminal activities or violence, there is likelihood that the child or the adolescent will modify into one in his or her future life. Besides, exposing an adolescent to rejection in a social group increases the chances of the child developing into a violent adult. This is because the person has a tendency to feel neglected and thus the only way to obtain attention is by resolving to be a violent person. Provided this, transitions or occurrences at various stages of life can have a permanent effect on various consequences during a life course. Eventually this can lead into a one main trajectory or pathway. Environment Most crimes in the inner city emerge as a result of the environment a person lives and the kind of exposures the person is subjected to. As mentioned earlier, this falls under transitions. For example; the type of housing one dwells has a major impact on the life course of the person. This coupled with a desire to live in a decent apartment beyond the capacity of earnings of the person will automatically make the individual to attempt earning beyond his/her means. The individual may resolve to obtain the house or money by any fraudulent means which result into change of a life course. Besides, family structure has a greater role to play in this scenario. The family structure dictates the form of education a person acquires. According to Heather and Farrington (2001), the family is the corner stone of a human community. Children or adolescents who are constantly rejected by their fathers and mothers, those who are brought up in homes with significant level of conflicts and those are not adequately monitored are exposed to risk of developing into delinquents. Deborah, et al. (2002) assert that justice or fairness can be executed in a better way when the young individuals are directed on the best paths by involving the family members in Juvenile crime proceedings. It is vital for the society at large to understand the impact of family make up in getting to roots of delinquency. The structure of a family is one of the profound socialization foundations in one’s life course. Families provide lessons to children and adolescents on how to adapt acceptable behavior, to minimize on their pleasure and to be mindful of their counterparts’ rights. However, families can instill into their children some level of violence, hateful behavior and antisocial behaviors (Eirini & Buchannan., 2002). Constructive parenting behavior in the initial years and late adolescence stage are very significant since they act as a firewall for criminal behavior among the youth and helps the adolescents to shun any form of delinquency. It must be noted with great importance that adolescence is a period of increasing the risk and chances that go in line with the expansion of social and boundary exposure to a living which is beyond the family and school. Above all, it begins with the family. Paul and Sobolewski (2001) note that different exposures to aggressiveness are vital origins of prior exits of adolescent stage which implies that it does not only apply to the family but also to the outside scope. The people who may be known to the adolescents in the family or outside the family may influence the youth’s engagement in delinquent events. The type of education given to children may increase or decrease delinquency. Antisocial practices may commence as early as to children in the pre-school level in the initial grades of elementary schooling. Such childhood misbehaviors seem to be vulnerable to change. For instance, harsh disciplinary measures by parents or teachers may often measure up to building up of more problems such as adulthood criminality and adolescence criminality. This implies that the right education methods must be used, which will also be coupled with relevant disciplinary measures to children found on the wrong. This calls for profound collaboration between the parents, guardians and the teachers. Disparities Different forms of disparities can lead into more criminal activities among the people. For example, racial disparities, job disparities and wealth disparities have a greater say on the level of criminology. Differential participation, personal racism and organizational racism are critical in life course theory. For instance, African-Americans and Hispanics are involved in differential racism in criminality such that they do commit more crimes. The level of criminality is connected to the fact that these classes of individuals are subjected to poverty and unemployment. In addition, a section of the disparities may emerge as a result of biasness or prejudice from law enforcers and law protectors such as police officers, attorneys, prosecutors, parole officials and probation officials. Personal racism may emanate from the fact that bias beliefs and the conduct of discrimination against races on the basis of their skin color or minority of groups. Moreover, the disparities may come about when various institutions use company policies, statutes and classifications make use of the institutional racism and crimes. Protective Factors that Derail the Continuity of Crime Individual Behavioral Patterns – Job Security In preventing or minimizing the level of crimes, creation of employment opportunities is very critical. The adolescents and young adults must be given something that can keep them busy as opposed to idleness. Collective efforts by different stakeholders in the community can help reduce the level of delinquency within the family. Increasing job opportunities cannot pave room for development of personal traits that maybe detrimental to the society. Changes to Family – Strong Marital Attachment Families on the other hand must find better ways of raising their children. For example a married couple must have a combined responsibility in taking care of the children and instilling the right behavior or conduct that can enhance their growth. It should be noted marital attachment that is solid and well established is very significant in raising responsible young adults who can build the nation a positive manner. Children must not be made to feel worthless in the event of divorce or misunderstanding in the family set-up. Thus couples should find a rational method of enhancing positive growth among the children such that they cannot feel the impact of the divorce. Community Changes Community changes entail putting up development projects supported by the society at large to help in engaging children and adolescents of different age groups to reduce idleness. The community must also have collective responsibilities in looking after the other children and adolescents in the society. For instance, the community can reprimand a teenager found to be lacking discipline without actually leaving the burden to the parents. The community can also advise parents who tend to avoid their responsibilities or in any case help in raising children who do not have parents. This will assure a safe and secure generation in the entire community. Social policy changes Social activities and play is very important to growing children. Play and other social events help children and adolescents develop insights in learning how to deal with people from other diversities. The youth must be made to feel they belong to a certain group. Thus interaction with other youth helps the youth shun away from any potential activities that can lead to criminal adults. In fact, children must not be separated from the rest; neither should they be made to feel worthless through antisocial behavior. Family violence must be done away with to enhance optimistic children growth. Abusive language should not be used in the presence of children because they possess a fast growing mind and brain. References Amato, P. & Juliana M. S. (2001). The effects of divorce on adult children’s psychological well-being. American Sociological Review, 66: 900-921. Elder, G., Kirkpatrick, M. J., & Crosnoe, R. (2003). The Emergence and Development of Life Course Theory. In: Jeylan T. Mortimer and Michael J. Shanahan (Ed.). Handbook of the Life Course. Springer. Flouri, E. and Buchannan, A. (2002). Father Involvement in Childhood and Trouble with the Police in Adolescence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17: 689-94 Gorman-Smith, D., Tolan, P., Sheidow, Ashli J., & Henry, D. (2002). Partner Violence and Street Violence among Urban Adolescents: Do the Same Family Factors Relate? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 11: 273-95. Juby, H. and Farrington, D. (2001). Disentangling the Link between Disrupted Families and Delinquency. British Journal of Criminology, 41: 22-40 Read More