Causes of Youth Delinquency - Essay Example

Causes of Youth Delinquency Youth delinquency submits to a kind of societal unsatisfactory adjustment towards intricate circumstances, paving way to illegal or antisocial conduct or activities by children and adolescents. Such behavior is accredited primarily to the personal disposition of the young individual, family atmosphere, and mental strength of the child or due to some physical, social, linguistic, sexual, gender or substance abuse. However, the reasons may vary to influence the young individual's aptitude and ability to adjust in a particular environment thereby causes delinquent behavior. Lack of communication between parents and child, access to media, TV and internet at tender age, video games is also responsible for rabble-rousing delinquent behavior. There exists complexity of causes which may persist years before the actual commitment of the offense while others may be recounted from immediate happenings in the surroundings of the young individual. The present article highlights various grounds responsible for youth delinquency and highlights the role played by educational programs, parental relations and parenting skills to restore the normal behavior of the young individual. Introduction Juvenile delinquent is a terminology used to describe a culpable youth, a blameworthy minor or a neglected, misguided, offending wrongdoer (Web: Juvenile delinquent, n.d.). A minor offender (an individual under the age of 18 years) or a juvenile delinquent participates in illegal activities. Observations reveal that there are a few children who possess the tendency to steal while others do not, some are display a propensity of being play malingerer, some may have a predisposition to damage objects or other's belongings, the tendency sows the seeds of criminal behavior and alters the psychology of the young budding mind. The present epoch witnesses a transition between various sectors encompassing school, family and work as a result of such changeover social relationships and socialization are breaking up; moreover, everyday life trajectories are more diverse and less anticipated. Various prevailing factors encompassing reorganization of the labor market, expansion of the maturity span as well as limited prospects to become a self-sufficient adult are some challenges that influence relationships with friends and family. On the other hand, education level and educational opportunities are becoming decisive factors to participate in labor market and leisure activities. The propensity of these circumstances is prevailing across the world as human population is witnessing population explosion which is the root cause of numerous inadequacies such as housing and support, competition, unemployment to a large segment of young population, overcrowding in underprivileged urban areas, dissolution of the family as well as poor educational opportunities are some leading causes that put pressure on young individuals (Web: Juvenile Delinquency, World Youth Report, 2003). Research and theories have been implicated over the years to rule out the underlying causes of such delinquent behavior, however, extensive studies are being carried out in last two decades due to augmentation in prevalence of crime committed by youth. Studies carried out by educational bodies, juvenile courts, mental hygiene clinics, child welfare associations revealed enormous data related to youth delinquency which serves as an aid in deriving general conclusion. Delinquency is directly related to inappreciable social adjustment. There are numerous factors which govern such a insignificant and parsimonious attitude. Every juvenile felony is the result of a intricacy of causes which may be traced back years before the actual crime committed or it could be immediate repercussion of the injustice being observed by the young individual. Factors which play vital role in whirling the child's temperament in negative direction may be puzzling and indecipherable by psychologists, physiologists and sociologists (Web: Juvenile Delinquency, Chapter 7. n.d.). To rule out one particular cause of offense is highly impractical. However, some degree of similarities may be common in diverse cases of youth delinquency. The current study presents the various group of causes which are responsible for the juvenile/ youth delinquency. Numerous risk factors are found to be associated with the induction of conduct disorder and delinquency in children and adolescents encompassing genetic, demographic, family including single parenthood or poor academic performance. Studies reveal the exposure of delinquent youth to varied forms of violent acts in family, in neighborhood, community, in school and peer groups and in media. Other risk factors involve poor self-image, psychopathology and characteristics like poverty. Studies have been carried out where delinquency is found to be the result of traumatic experience, due to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or due to any other form of stress. Essentially, there is a need to understand the causes and factors that are responsible for youth delinquency (Erdelja et al, 2013). Young individuals who commit crime right from an early age are likely to be habitual offenders. Research carried out to understand the backgrounds, attitudes and circumstances of these future offenders encompass various numerous factors (Web: Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors, 2010). Congested neighborhood and slums, poor living relationship with neighbors, untrustworthy neighbors, lack of mutual support, influence of gangs and visitors of neighbors, affluent neighbors with luxury and wealth may influence budding young mind as the child may compare living status, thereby geminating the seeds of discontent which results in delinquency (Juvenile Delinquency, Chapter 7. n.d.). Parental and perinatal factors are responsible for undesirable outcome. These are attributed to enhanced risks of poor school accomplishment, substance abuse, and antisocial behavior. Further, children belonging to teenage mothers display offending behavior. This is accredited to poor housing, low income, absent or missing father as well as deprived child-rearing procedure. Poor school attainment is due impulsiveness, restlessness, hyperactivity, limited ability to concentrate and lack of ability to foresee the cost of offending (Web: Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors, 2010). Intelligence of the individual plays a vital role. Low acumen and poor school performance contribute to poor ability to influence intangible concepts and this deprives the delinquents’ wisdom to understand the feelings of victims. Under certain situations strict and erratic imposition of parental discipline or parental rejection is correlated with delinquency. Physical abuse of child by parents is also responsible for youth delinquency (Web: Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors, 2010). Parental conflict and separation is strongly co-related with youth delinquency as compared to the death of one parent. Parental conflict is said to be more responsible cause of delinquency than mere separation of parents or broken homes. Further, socio-economic status or deprivation either social or economic is considered as predictors of antisocial behavior or crime (Web: Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors, 2010). Familial relationship alone is not responsible for delinquency in child but peer influences also play an imperative role. More the time spent in activities without direction like watching television, bigger the probability of delinquent behavior. Delinquent friends may be responsible for delinquent behavior, however, it is not established that merely being in the company of delinquents inculcate offending behavior or delinquents incline towards each other. Breaking up with such friends may rectify the behavior (Leve & Chamberlain, 2005; Vitaro et al., 2000). Various school factors such as insufficient attention, bullying by friends could turn out to be the prevailing causes of delinquency. In certain cases punishment in school, in front of peers inculcates the revengeful attitude. Getting less grades or an insult in front of the school or class deteriorates school performance and sow the seeds of delinquent behavior. At times such children frame the opinion that how so ever good their behavior be they are going to be categorized as bad, in order to prove this they develop the habit of misbehavior and become delinquent (Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors, 2010). Besides economic, familial and social factors, other factors such as culture, migration, media, surroundings, urbanization, community, exclusion also plays vital role in delinquent or criminal behavior in youth. Delinquent identity is highly intricate and it is an amalgamation of various factors which motivate the youth to adopt such behavior. Individuals with such behavior may form a gang or a group to perform criminal activities. Prevention of delinquent behavior is complex phenomenon, through understanding of the situation in which a child or an adolescent was groomed could, provide a means or an assessment of likelihood of delinquent behavior. As children are dependent on their parents for intellectual, social, physical as well as financial resources, inability of the parents to fulfill the basic needs of the child or lack of resources makes the child delinquent. Much studies have been carried out revealing the significance of parental role in influencing the behavior of their wards. A close and healthy skills such as interaction with the child is essential. Observation reveals that children either from poor economic status or those belonging to working class families display criminal behavior to a greater extent. Research indicates that stress and strain in the family engages the children with deviant friends of group which serves as a training ground for criminal behavior (Smyth, 2012). Prominence on parenting style plays vital role in nurturing the child, failing to do so holds cynical phenomenon. Criminology research reveals the fact that family environment plays a major role in molding the behavior of the child. Ineffective, dysfunctional and inept parenting provides perfect platform for the development of youth delinquency (Smyth, 2012). Appropriate skills like educating parents, training children for cognitive and social skills, peer influence strategies, classroom management, anti-bullying steps at school, frequent visit to homes of the child with delinquent behavior could prevent the child from developing into a delinquent adult. Even though research studies are being conducted to understand the psychology of the individuals turning out to be delinquent, a need to evaluate the effectiveness of the research studies is highly imperative. Community based program could resolve the problem to a greater extent (Smyth, 2012). Conclusion Numerous dwelling and neighboring factors contribute to the development of youth delinquency as these two together groom the physical and mental well being of the individual. However, past and present experiences, abuse or other influences may frame the psychology of the budding minds in childhood years. Early understanding by parents, elders and teachers may revert the situation to a greater extent. Essentially, adequate knowledge to deal with delicate situation is essential. As every individual is different in perception and thoughtfulness, history of delinquency must be taken individually for the faultless outcome and improved behavior of the delinquent. Appropriate family atmosphere and congenial parenting paves the way for responsible and better citizens. Delinquent behavior can never spread its roots if parenting is perfect and home atmosphere is amiable. Essentially parents should take the responsibility to groom their child to prevent youth delinquency. References Erdelja, S., Vokal, P., Bolfan, M., Erdelja, S. A., Begovac, B., Begovac, I. (2013). Delinquency in incarcerated male adolescents is associated with single parenthood, exposure to more violence at home and in the community, and poorer self-image. Croat Med J, 54, 460-8 Juvenile Delinquency, Chapter 7. n.d. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ch07.pdf. Juvenile delinquent. n.d. Retrieved from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/juvenile+delinquent. Juvenile Delinquency, World Youth Report, (2003). Retrieved from http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ch07.pdf. Juvenile Delinquency and Family Structure. n.d. Retrieved from http://facstaff.elon.edu/ajones5/Anika's%20paper.htm. Keller, at al. (2002).  Parent figure transitions and delinquency and drug use among early adolescent children of substance abusers.  Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 28(3), 399-423. Leve, L. D., Chamberlain, P. (2005). Association with Delinquent Peers: Intervention Effects for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. J. Abnorm Child Psychol, 33(3), 339-347. Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors, (2010). Retrieved from http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/165/preventing-juvenile-delinquency-early- intervention-and-comprehensiveness-as-critical-factors Smyth, P. (2012). Parental Responsibility and Juvenile Delinquency. Retrieved from http://sociolegalstudiesreview.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Section-6-Article-4.pdf. Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M., & Tremblay, R. E. (2000).  Influence of deviant friends on delinquency: searching for moderator variables.  Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28(4), 313-322. Read More