Causes of Criminal Behavior among Minors - Essay Example

? Juvenile Offender Behavior: Learned or Inherited? Nowadays juvenile delinquency is common in every part of the world. Each day it is known that more and more youngsters are getting involved in organized crimes. The reason for juvenile delinquency can be co-related with several factors. These factors can either be related to their family, genetic, their social class, parental discipline and their day to day surroundings. These factors can either help avoiding the children to get involved in such activities or they can either divert the children more towards the delinquency. The way the juveniles are being treated at their homes is a strong factor in determining that a child would get involved with criminal activities or not. For e.g. child from a divorced couple may be more likely to get involve with these activities. Divorce is an important aspect which can lead to a distortion in the behavior of parents which can further lead the children to go into a state of trauma. This trauma can therefore lead to the involvement of children in unusual activities of criminal nature. Genetic studies relate the trauma to unusual neurological changes resulting in aggressive or violent behaviors. On the other hand it can be noted that children who have been provided with proper care and treatment in their homes are less likely to be involved in such activities. Furthermore the social class to which the child belongs also plays an important role in determining his future. By social class here it is meant as to which class of the society he belongs to, i.e. race, ethnicity and status (Bynum & Thompson 2007). Juvenile Offender Behavior: A Learned phenomenon The article by Gregory Thyne is undoubtedly a nice attempt towards explaining the initial origin of the juvenile offending behaviors. Thyne’s argument is in full support of the theory supporting these behaviors as learned and changeable through constant efforts and proper attention given to such children. On the other hand, theories which relate the psychopathic individuals to genetic and biological phenomenon are not completely acceptable. The biological arguments are also supported by the scientific research; however, these arguments in favor of the genetic factors affecting juvenile offending behaviors are somehow vague. Psychologists believe and prove that behaviors are affected by the way individuals experience and perceive the world. Moreover, much of the research and real life experiences call for a change in such behaviors which are learned by the individuals through heavy exposure to offending behaviors and early experiences of such behaviors during the childhood. Juvenile offending behaviors are linked to abnormal chemical reactions and unusual brain development. However, limited literature supports this argument as the genetic or inborn abnormality among the juveniles. Most of the literature suggests that these abnormal brain development processes exist as a result of some traumatic injury, exposure to some unusual incident or some past experience. The conditions of the brain and psychological development is interrupted causing changes in the brain structure which are, then, translated as a genetic influence on juveniles. If this theory or evidence is considered to be the true indicator of juvenile delinquency, then no other factor than ‘fate’ can be accused of such behaviors. The human powers to control such behaviors will be vanished due to the uncontrollable genetic development and the resulting offensive behaviors (Ryan et al., 2010). With the change of culture and trends, people have changed their attitudes and habits too. The increasing competition, status consciousness, high emphasis on the consumption of branded articles and more importance given to materialistic things has changed the overall picture of the society. People are now more motivated to compare their lifestyles with their associates. They are more inclined to compete and somehow defeat others. People are now failing to distinguish between right and wrong. Similarly, they are pushing their children to win in every walk of life. In some areas, it can be seen as a good move towards a brighter future of their children. However, we cannot neglect the darker side of this issue. Children are motivated to win the games and to get the highest grades in the class. This sense of competition and urge to win leads them to win by any means. It diverts their attention from playing well. They are less motivated to gain knowledge but to get the grades. They are less motivated to help others but to defeat them. This competition does not limit to the grounds of sports and studies but further affects the whole lives of children. Hence, children’s priorities have changed by the social factors which are learned or adopted by the society they dwell in. These learned competition habits are the true exhibiter of their uncalled behaviors. Nowadays, the importance of media in our lives cannot be ignored. Media is somehow responsible for the changes in society. Children are more likely to adopt the behaviors and fashions shown in the television programs. “It is clear that heavy exposure to media violence causes an increase in the likelihood of future aggressive and violent behavior” (Chaves, 2008 p. 148). It is a scientific concept that media is not the only cause of aggressive behaviors and violence however, it is proved that heavy exposure to media violence increases the chance of future aggressive and violent behaviors. Children desire to eat what is being advertised in an attractive way on television, internet and videogames. They even try to get access to that food stuff which they find in their favorite movie or video game. They also try to consume the most popular brands to show their prestige and high living standards. The results of a number of studies and experiments conducted in regards to find out the role of media in increasing smoking habits in adolescents. The advertisement on television, magazines, video games and internet grabs the attention of children and acts as a strong motivational force for them to light a cigarette. They get fascinated to the glamorous way in which the advertisements are made. Television and movies are supposed to have a great impact on alcohol consumption in adolescents. Children, who watch more television, are likely to have increased chances of alcohol consumption. Regardless of the grade of movie, media is continuously exposing alcoholic beverages as a source of fun and fashion. Media is contributing to the likelihood of early sexual initiation in adolescents. Media is influencing the psychosocial environment by sexual exposure on television, music videos, internet and movies. Television is a great cause of adolescents' violent and aggressive behaviors. Children who watch aggressive and violent movies are likely to behave aggressively and choose violent games to play than those who do not watch television or violent shows (Chaves, 2008). The problems of smoking, alcohol consumption, violent and aggressive behaviors are severe and need attention to be solved. Media is harming the social, psychological and ethnical condition of adolescents. Media must be used as a helpful technique to stop health compromising habits like smoking, drinking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity etc. (Douglas Evans, 2008). Violence is very common in today's world. News is the most common mean of media which exposes violence. In other words we can say that society is full of violence and aggressive behaviors since the news exposes the real but exaggerated picture of our society and crimes. The exposure of such crimes and violent behaviors are resulting in violent and aggressive attitudes of youth and is continuously harming our society. This violence has been increasing ever since media has started to expose violence in almost every program from the movies for youngsters to the news channels. Since the late 90's, media has made the kidnapping incidents its major subject. Kidnapping is one news topic that the media tend to sensationalize. Since the late 1990s, the number of stories about child kidnap­ping in the news has been on the rise. In 1997, for example, 40 percent of juvenile kidnappings were perpetrated by a family member, 27 percent by an acquain­tance, and 24 percent by a stranger (Wilson, 2008). Hence, children learn much of the aggressive and violent behaviors from the television either from the news i.e. real life instances or from the scripted work of the media programs. Children take inspiration from their siblings, parents, friends, teachers and ones they really like or love. The relationship between a child and parent is an important one and the parent is a great source of influence for the child. Through the observation of ancestral and parental habits children pick up the influential practices. Parents, having a great influence on their children, give them a reason to drink (Wilks et al., 1989), behave aggressively, sexual impatience and so on. Research has shown that the relationship of drinking between parents and children is highly related (D. Herd 1994). Parents must watch ethical movies, programs and news with the children and must explain them the brighter side of the story. Parents are the source who can help their children and reduce the factors that negatively affect children and their physical condition and psychological behaviors. Parents may help children from escaping their fears if they explain them about the special effects used in the horror movie or game. According to Wilson, parents must monitor and help children get rid of fearful, unhealthy and negative influences while connected to any kind of media. Parents are an essential part for the children in getting negative or positive lesson from media. Parental guidance is necessary for helpful and useful outcomes as a result of media usage by their children. Different experiments and researches taken place have clearly illustrated that watching violent shows on the television alters the thinking of a child. It makes the child more socially aggressive in the future. “The television violence aggression link turns out to be larger than the link between lead exposure and children’s IQ.” (Wilson, p101). According to the research conducted if children are exposed to a large quantity of lead their brain can get damaged. Their ability to think and concentrate can also be affected if they are exposed to lead. It can lead the children’s brain to perform hyper activities and therefore move towards the path of aggression. In conclusion, we can say that materialistic approach to defeat others on the grounds of money-oriented things is a common obsession in today’s world. Children adopt the behavior and lifestyle of people around them. Since the juvenile’s offending behavior is learned, as the studies suggest, there is a need for the schools, families including parents and siblings and authorities to involve such programs which either eliminate the possibility of such behaviors through awareness programs and education or provide a proper rehabilitation suite in prisons for the juveniles. Bibliography: Bynum, J. E., & Thompson, W. E. (2007). Juvenile delinquency: A sociological approach. Boston, MA: Pearson Allyn and Bacon. Escobar-Chaves S.L., & Anderson C.A. (2008). Media and risky behaviors. Future of Children. 18 (1), 147-180. Evans, W. D. (June 06, 2008). Social Marketing Campaigns and Children's Media Use. Future of Children, 18, 1, 181-203. Herd, D. A. (January 01, 1994). The effects of parental influences and respondents' norms and attitudes on black and white adult drinking patterns. Journal of Substance Abuse, 6, 2, 137-54. Media and Children's Aggression, Fear, and Altruism. (January 01, 2008). The Future of Children, 18, 1, 87-118. Ryan, G., Lane, S. L., & Leversee, T. F. (2010). Juvenile sexual offending: Causes, consequences, and correction. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons. Wilks, J., Callan, V. J., & Austin, D. A. (January 01, 1989). Parent, peer and personal determinants of adolescent drinking. British Journal of Addiction, 84, 6, 619-30. Appendix 1 Thyne’s article provide some introduction to the concept of genetic factors that affect juvenile offending behaviors but fail to support the claims using literature available on the topic The article provides a rather general approach in describing the genetic or inborn factors involved in explaining the offensive or unseals early behaviors of juveniles. The argument in favor of psychopathic individuals being affected psychologically through the surroundings and experiences is discussed in much detail making it a one sided or biased piece of information. Thyne claims that ‘almost 100%’ of juveniles with offensive future behaviors are abused in their childhood but this claim is not supported by any theory, evidence or research making it a rather vague or unreliable argument. The article, however, is a good source of information to support our argument that juvenile delinquency is learned through the environment and other external factors rather than genetics. Read More