Development Criminologists argue that both the individual and family factors can determine future offending behavior - Essay Example

? Topic: Development Criminologists argue that both the individual and family factors can determine future offending behavior. Discuss these factors and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this perspective By Insert Your Name Presented to Instructor’s Name, Course Institution Name, Location Date Due INTRODUCTION Human behavior according to Downes and Rock, P. (2011) comes into existence as a result of the interaction between people’s characteristics and the experiences that are encountered with the environment that one operates (Downes 2011, p. 25). Therefore an individual future offending behavior comes as an outcome of the individual’s characteristics and the environment that he or she interact notably the family. Development criminologists argue that for most future offenders, individual experiences and characteristics is considered an important factor contributing to offending behavior (Downes 2011). In the same school of thought family environment is also an influencing factor in regard to the future offenders. The two perspectives provide an insight on how its underlying factors are associated with offending in the future (Hughes 2003, p. 59). Both individual and family factors often ameliorate the offence and they have a significant correlation with the offending behavior. OVERVIEW OF RISKS FACTORS AND CAUSAL MECHANISM According to Jewkes, Y. and Letherby, G. , (2002) they provide that both the family and individual factors influencing the likelihood of offending in the future may casually relate to the offending or correlate with the behavior itself. Each of the factors in the respective perspective interacts with the other in a complex manner contributing to the greater risk of offending in the future (Letherby 2002, p. 26). The risk of offending factors identified in the context of the social life notably the population-level influence differently at the individual level. According to Newburn (2007) the causal mechanisms provide an explanation on how the factors from the two perspectives results into individual future offending. It is notable that there is no apparent correlation between the family and individual factors leading to development of offending behavior (Newburn 2007, p 202). Both of the perspectives ascribe to various theories subjected to strengths and weakness (Letherby 2002, p. 56). FAMILY INFLUENCE ON FUTURE OFFENDING BEHAVIOR It is perceived by many that the main cause of offending behavior is attributed to the family factors usually associated with poor parenting and child-rearing methods. All these lead to poor discipline and control of children which is a major leading to development of offending behavior (Hughes 200, p. 59). According to Downes (2011) he provides that asserting from the surveys taken on adult offenders shows that the family factors was the most popular cause of their offending behavior. The family factors entail the following. Crime Runs in Families According to Hale C., Hayward K., Wahidin A. and Wincup E. (2009) on surveys they conducted on the relation of children offending behavior and families he provides that anti-social and criminal parents have the tendency of having anti-social and offending children in the future. In addition more extensive research carried out in concerning the concentration of offending families, the results was that having a convicted brother, sister, mother or father predicted significantly the future offending behavior of a boy (Newburn 2007, p. 98). Same-sex relations are stronger as compared to opposite sex, asserting from this it can be argued that conviction of the fathers has significant influence in regard to the boys offending behavior. In regard to this having a convicted parent or an older offending sibling has a significant influence on the future offending behavior (Downes 2011, p. 105). Other factors in regard to crime runs in the families are negligence on parent supervision and the juvenile self-reported offending behavior. The notable inter-generational offending behavior transmitted among the crime runs families comprises of the larger cycle of deprivation of the anti-social behavior. Child Care giving and Rearing Methods There are various child rearing and care giving methods which can influence the child offending behavior in the future. The key major aspects of child rearing and care giving is the supervision, monitoring of children, emotional relationship entailing warmth or coldness, parental reinforcement and finally parental involvement with children. Parental supervision refers to the degree of parent’s monitors the behavior of their children (Hughes 2003, p. 208). Of all these underlying aspect of children rearing and care giving, parental supervision is the most significant factor that can predict the offending behavior in the future. Many of the studies indicate that parents who do not supervise their children in the streets at an early age tend to influence the future offending behavior of their children. Further studies shows that poor parental supervision at an early age influences the future offending behavior up to the age of 45 years. Inconsistent discipline among the two parents also predicts future offending behavior (Reiner 2012, p. 12). This aspect turns a blind eye to a bad behavior as one parent can be tolerant and the other punishes harshly. In appropriate handling and responding to a child bad behavior influences the offending behavior in the future. Rejecting and cold-emotional parents tend to have offending children also the same applies to the children whom their parent does not fully get involve with their activities. The link between the child-rearing and care giving methods and future offending behavior is the aspects of child social learning and the genetic transmission of offending (Wincup 2009, p. 28). Large Family Size Large family size which comprises of large number of children has a string relation with the offending behavior in the future. Children notably the boy child who has more than four siblings is at a higher risk of offending as a juvenile. Larger family size is also linked to future self-reported offending and convictions. This is attributed to the fact that as the family size increases the parental attention given to each child decreases significantly (Letherby 2002, p. 36). Attributed to this is the household become more overcrowded contributing to increase conflicts, frustrations and irritation. Therefore ascribing from this it can be asserted that there is an evident link between larger families and future offending behavior. In regard to this focus is put on the parenting, features of the parents and the family stress. Neglect and Child Abuse Studies shows that most of the children who are physically abused or neglected are likely offend in the future. The studies provides that children abused and neglected before the age of 11 are likely to be arrested as juveniles as well as at adulthood. Neglect and child abuse is also linked with boys being convicted for serious crimes, becoming mentally ill or indulging in alcohol. Child maltreatment under the age of 12 years has a significant influence on later official and self-reported offending behavior (Wincup 2009, p. 155). Child abuse results impulsive copying styles which contribute to poor school performance and poor problem solving skills. Child neglect and victimization causes bodily changes, self esteem and social information which encourage offending in the future. Disrupted Families and Parental Conflict There are many theories which provide that broken families contribute to the broken homes and families. These theories argue that mother and the overall parental love is essential for physical and mental health. Children who suffer parental care deprivation for more than five years are likely to have irreversible negative effects such as affectionless character and offending behavior in the future. Most of the studies show that children separated from their biological parents will tend to have offending behavior than those from intact families. According to Wincup (2009, p. 166) carried out innovative study concerning the relationship between broken homes attributed to the loss of the biological father. The study showed that there is prevalence for offending in boys without father or mother affectionate (Wincup 2009, p. 188). This feature was also common for those who come from unbroken homes which are characterized with conflicts both in cases where they have affectionate parents. Therefore it can be argued from these results that the broke home factor does not entirely contribute to offending behavior but the conflict in the family is the major contributor. There are other explanations showing the link and the relationship between disrupted families and the offending behavior in the future. Trauma theories focus on the situations such as loss of a parent and its damaging effects because of the parental attachment which is significant in shaping the future behavior (Newburn 2007, p. 203). Life course theories focus on the development of offending behavior with the sequence of stressful experiences such as parental conflicts, reduced economic circumstances, parental loss and poor-child rearing methods Strengths and weakness of this perspective There is evidence that the family factors predict offending behavior in the future. Most of the underlying factors are the strongest predictors notably the family and anti-social behavior of the parents. The reliability of this perspective is further enhanced by the social learning and attachment theories. This has proven true because causal effects of family factors tested on the prospective longitudinal studies (Croall 2011, p. 16). It is notable that it is difficult to determine the causal mechanism which links the family factors to the development of offending behavior the future. This is because it relates to each other not only to each other but also other risk factors including individual factors. This perspective does not take into account other key underlying constructs in other aspects of life. There are also biological factors which interact with the public. It is notable that socio-economic factors have a greater influence shadowing the family factors. Therefore as the family factors predict offending in the future it is apparent that it is less clear on the which family dimensions should be measured. INDIVIDUAL INFLUENCE ON FUTURE OFFENDING BEHAVIOR These are self-triggered personal factors which influence the individual offending behavior in the future. These individual factors can be discussed as follows. Experience of Abuse and Maltreatment In most cases children who have been abused or maltreated develop post traumatic stress disorder attributed to these experiences. They are subjected to physiological effects which influence their behavior such as emotional detachment, anxiety and exaggerated startle response (Wincup 2009, p. 200). Most of the young people who have experienced abuse and maltreatment with this disorder respond aggressively because of lack of self control. This is as a result of the limited ability to cope and mitigate a conflict. Attributed to maltreatment experiences make young children to behave adversely because of the sensitivity to rejection. This reinforces the negative perception on others and the development of offending behavior in the future. According to Hale C., Hayward K., Wahidin A. and Wincup E. (2009) he provides that young people experiencing abuse at the tender age develop offending behavior traits in the adulthood. Physical abuse experienced as a child has a strong influence on the development of offending, impulsive and anti-social behavior (Wincup 2009, p. 56). Because of the above combinations and outcomes of the abuse and maltreatment experiences, they struggle to interact and socialization with the peers resulting into rejection. This in turn affects negatively the self-esteem already affected by the abuse. This lack of skills and ability to communicate contributes to development of violent behavior and the likelihood of offending behavior in the future. Problematic behavior from early age According to Maguire, M., Morgan, R. & Reiner, R. (2012) he provides that many children who are likely to get involved with offending behavior in the future exhibit behavioral problems from early age (Reiner 2012, p. 83). The transition period comes along when they become influenced by the old peers. In addition to this the author asserts that children with such behavioral changes mostly come from families with exposure to risk factors including mental health problems, marital discord and parental criminality. Studies also provide that early behavioral problems result to the early rejection by a pro-social peer group and this leads into acceptance of the offending and deviant group (Croall 2011, p. 39). Behavioral problem at an early age increase the likelihood of offending behavior as well as the ability to have secure attachments. Therefore it can be argued that lack of ability to communicate influences the likelihood of violent response and the offending behavior in the future. Alcohol and drug abuse Studies show that high levels of offending in the future and high risk behaviors are attributed to drug abuse and alcohol. Future offending by many young people is strongly linked to the frequency of drinking. Individuals drinking on regular basis increase the likelihood of seclusion which reinforces the increase of other factors (Reiner 2012, p. 98). Most of the recent studies show that young drinkers are likely to get in violent incidents which can translate into offending behavior in the future. Research shows that boys who are involve in alcohol and drug abuse are five times likely to commit criminal offences and development of offending behavior in the future. The implication of drug and alcohol abuse is evident in regard to the group based offending behavior. The aspect of risk in regard to group offending concerning young people is the likelihood of offending after consuming both alcohol and drugs (Reiner 2012, p. 109). School exclusion According to Walklate, S. (2003, p. 205) exclusion from school and poor attendance is provided to be a major key factor contributing to the development of offending behavior for young people in the future (Walklate 2003, p. 146). It is notable that young people who self-exclude themselves from school are at a higher risk of getting involved with crime and anti-social behavior. Therefore it can be argued that they turn into offending behavior because they do not engage in any positive activity (Walklate 2003, p. 108). Young people who have positive relationship with their teachers and good attachment to school are likely not to exhibit offending behavior in the future. Parents who never support their children in regard to education hamper misbehavior and exclusion which contribute to development of offending behavior (Croall 2011, p. 43). Poor school attendance and performance has been linked by most studies to development of offending behavior attributed to inconsistent erratic parenting. It can be argued that the chaotic behavior exhibited by children in the classroom can be traced to their experience in both the classroom and home. There is clear link school seclusion and the experiences that they undergo at home with the future development of offending behavior in the future (Walklate 2003, p. 79). Personal resilience Individual personal resilience is one of the personal attributes influencing an individual getting involved in crime or not. This usually depends on the personal aspirations as well as the chances to succeed in life. Most of the young people who choose not to offend notably have higher aspirations and are likely not to develop offending behavior (Reiner 2012, p. 136). The resilience is the fact that they feel to have successful and a positive future. Attributed to this is that children with higher academic levels are less likely to engage in offending activities such as crime. This is related to the perception that they can achieve success through their education. Personal resilience is influenced by better conflict resolution skills and better communication thus the development of a greater understanding of the offending behavior consequences. In regard to personal resilience it can be argued that outlook and personality have a great impact on the deviance and offending behavior. It is notable that temperamental and outgoing children with increasing self-esteem and self-efficacy are likely not developing offending behavior (Reiner 2012, p. 121). Strengths and weakness of this perspective The strength of this perspective is the fact that individual factors can easily be determined. This is attributed to the fact that the various dimensions of personal life can easily be measured (Croall 2011, p. 151). Other domains of an individual personal life are reliable and more objective in determining the offending behavior in the future. The weakness of this perspective is that it does not take into account the sequential effects of other significant factors apart from those of individual. The cumulative family has not been fully accounted. Conclusion In conclusion it is therefore apparent that there is no single factor in both perspectives can be justified as the cause of offending behavior in the future. The cause of the offending behavior can be attributed to multiple risk factors both family and individual clustered together. With the research and studies of the various developmental criminologists to identify specific offending behavior it is important to analyze the correlation of the various specific factors. Therefore taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of both perspectives a specified cause of offending behavior in the future can be identified. References Croall, H. (2011) Crime and Society in Britain, Harlow, Essex: Pearson-Longman  Downes, D. And Rock, P. (2011) Understanding Deviance (6thed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press  Hale C., Hayward K., Wahidin A. and Wincup E. (2009) Criminology, Oxford: Oxford University Press.  Jewkes, Y. and Letherby, G. , (2002) Criminology: A Reader. London: Sage.  Newburn,T. (2007) Criminology, Cullompton, Willan.  McLaughlin, E., Muncie, J. and Hughes, G. (2003) Criminological Perspectives: An EssentialReadings,London: Sage.  Maguire, M., Morgan, R. & Reiner, R. (2012) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (5thed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press  Walklate, S. (2003) Understanding Criminology, Buckingham, Open University Press.  Read More