How does family contribute to juvenile delinquency - Essay Example

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY How Does Family Contribute to Juvenile Delinquency? Tiffany Elmgren SOC10 Chaffey College How Does Family Contribute to JuvenileDelinquency?Juvenile Delinquency definedThe Family and its FunctionStructural Functionalism and Juvenile DelinquencyDefinitionThe Theory and Juvenile DelinquencyExampleConflict Theory and Juvenile DelinquencyDefinitionThe Theory and Juvenile DelinquencyExampleSymbolic Interactionism and Juvenile DelinquencyDefinitionThe Theory and Juvenile DelinquencyExampleHow Does Family Contribute to Juvenile Delinquency?

Juvenile Delinquency is defined as criminal behavior committed by minors (Siegel & Welsh, 2009). This social problem is perhaps one of the most controversial dilemmas faced by society today. The reason for this can be attributed to the fact that it directly undermines the image of society’s basic institution – the family. Now, what is the family? It is where the child is born, raised, educated and cared for. The basic functions of the family are: reproduction, protection, socialization, regulation of sexual behavior, affection and companionship, and social status (http://www.people.vcu.

edu/~jmahoney /family101.htm). If all these functions, especially those of child protection and affection are neglected, this would inevitably lead to a juvenile delinquent in our midst. Structural Functionalism is the theory which focuses on society as an entity in which all of the components work together cooperatively and cohesively for the betterment of the overall society (http://ryoung001.homestead.com/AssessingTheory.html). It is said that the goal of structural functionalism is equilibrium or balance in society.

As the basic unit of society, the family also has an important role to play as pertaining to this theory. The child should be nurtured and cared for, brought up in a loving environment, and given all the support and affection he/she needs. All members of the family should work for this goal. If the family cannot fulfill this function in society, then the functionalism theory can be deemed fruitless. An example of this would be if the child had no father and was being supported by a step-father.

If the stepfather always yells at the child when he makes small mistakes, and gets a whipping when he commits bigger mistakes, then the child will develop inner hatred for the stepfather, which may develop into something else later on. This will become even a bigger problem if the mother ignores the way the stepfather treats her child and even consents to it. Hence the child grows up in an unstable family environment which may lead to juvenile delinquency later on. The Conflict theory shows how conflict is the catalyst of social change and societal growth, rather than cooperation and cohesion.

(http://ryoung001.homestead.com/AssessingTheory.html). This theory is said to be the opposite of Structural Functionalism and it thrives on the concept of conflict as the precursor of change. Sometimes, it is the conflict itself in the home which reinforces the possibility of social problems arising. When there is a rebel teenager in the family who always gets a reprimand from his parents, and the child sees nothing wrong with what the older sibling is doing, the younger child develops repulsiveness to his parents since he knows that they might do the same when he follows the older one.

Symbolic Interactionism is the way we learn to interpret and give meaning to the world though our interactions with others (http://hhd.csun.edu/hillwilliams/Symbolic%20Inter actionism%20Lecture.htm). The problem of juvenile delinquency can be addressed on a micro level with this theory since, at this level, we can point out people, events and other factors within the family which may inter-play to lead to this social problem. Family problems may be one, drug addiction and/or alcoholism of one or both parents may be another.

There are a multitude of other factors, yet somehow, from the eyes of the child, this is considered the norm and this is where he draws his perspective in dealing with others. When the father and the mother are always arguing about finances with the children present, this makes them emotionally disturbed and insecure. The child carries this problem with him and is thus usually quiet, by himself, or is less sociable. The worse case scenario would be having a child who has been traumatized with the bickering and never-ending disagreements.

Parents should understand that these actions may cause unwanted effects on their children. ReferencesSiegel, Larry & Welsh, Brandon (2009). Juvenile Delinquency Theory Practice & Law. California: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.Symbolic Interactionism Theory, Adapted from Scott Plunkett’s Course Pack. 24 March 2010 Assessing the Theories of Sociology, Sociologist at Large. 24 March 2010 The Family, 24 March 2010, < http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jmahoney/family101.htm>