Family
The most important social
institution
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Recall from social process theories the
importance of social ties and the attitudes
and values that flow through them.
How does a family influence a kid’s social
processes?
Additionally, families determine what
resources, neighborhoods, schools,
churches, peer groups, and so forth to
which kids have access.
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Family Influence is Contact
Dependent
Delinquency goes up with:
1. Fewer Adults in Household
2. Less Contact with Parents
Working Parents Illustrate
Problem
Mom Dad
3. More Siblings in Household
4. Greater Outside Influence
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Family Influence is Contact Problems with “Broken Homes”
Dependent
Delinquency goes up with: “Broken Homes” typically have
1. Fewer Adults in Household less:
2. Less Contact with Parents 1. Time
Working Parents Illustrate 2. Supervision
Problem 3. Attachment
Besides, the act of “breaking up”
is disruptive. How did you
Mom Dad react in your last romantic
3. More Siblings in Household break-up? (Kids will cope by
4. Greater Outside Influence acting out, running away,
being truant, drinking, etc.)
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
“Broken Homes” and Delinquency:
Do not blame violation of “Natural Law” or loss of biological father
for delinquency
(sampling on the dependent variable: it is the norm for women to get
children, so most “broken homes” will have an absent biological
father)
There are a constellation of problems that accompany family
dissolution:
1. Economic Harm
2. Loss of a Supervisor
3. Weakens Ties to Conventional Others
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
“Broken Homes” and Delinquency:
There are a constellation of problems that accompany family
dissolution:
1. Economic Harm
2. Loss of a Supervisor
3. Weakens Ties to Multiple Conventional Others
4. School Problems
*Higher Drop-out Rates
*Less Time for Homework
*Mobility Reduces Attachment to School
5. Police, Teachers, etc. are more Strict on Kids from Broken Homes
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
“Broken Homes” and Delinquency:
5. Police, Teachers, etc. are more Strict on Kids from Broken Homes
Factors that Cause Marital Breakup May also be Linked to Delinquency
Factor
Divorce Delinquency
After all, parental death does not lead to delinquency.
So… Should parents stay together for the sake of children?
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
So… Should parents stay together for the sake of children?
No
Family Conflict Hurts Too
Bad Families Promote Delinquency
1. Spousal Conflict
2. Fighting Families
Conflict Teaches/Allows Misbehavior
Misbehavior can Create Family Conflict that
Teaches/Allows Misbehavior
Conflict Erodes Bonds
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Bad Families Promote Delinquency
1. Spousal Conflict
2. Fighting Families
Conflict Teaches/Allows
Misbehavior
Misbehavior can Create Family
Conflict that
Teaches/Allows Misbehavior
Conflict Erodes Bonds
3. Negligence (Physical and
Emotional)
4. Deviant or Criminal Parents
Reduces Conventional
Supervision
Increases Deviant Socialization
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Bad Families Promote Delinquency What is Good Parenting?
1. Spousal Conflict Parental Attachment
2. Fighting Families Important (Support)
Conflict Teaches/Allows Open Communication—
Misbehavior
Engagement with Ideas,
Misbehavior can Create Family Values, and Behaviors Inside
Conflict that
Teaches/Allows Misbehavior
Child’s Head
Conflict Erodes Bonds Control
3. Negligence (Physical and
Emotional)
4. Deviant or Criminal Parents
Reduces Conventional
Supervision
Increases Deviant Socialization
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
What is Good Parenting?
Parental Attachment Important (Support)
Open Communication—Engagement with Ideas, Values, and
Behaviors Inside Child’s Head
Control
1. Should be Consistent
2. Not Lenient nor Strict
3. Should explain punishments
4. Corporal Punishment Legitimates Violence: Learn Physical
Force Achieves One’s Desires
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Why are Foster Families Associated with
Delinquency?
Kids may have been in trouble before.
Kids Already had problem families
Changes in Foster Families Interfere with Consistent Parental
Support and Control
Large Family (Resource Dilution)
Supervision Very Important
Lack of Empowerment for Foster Parents
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Sibling Effects?
Delinquent Siblings Increase Odds of Becoming Delinquent
Understudied
Children Socialize Each Other
Abusive Siblings are like Abusive Parents
But Not a Moral Authority
Parental Permissiveness Condones Abuse
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Child Abuse
More Serious, Extended the Abuse, The More Subsequent
Delinquency
Caretaker more Likely to Abuse (Women more Likely to Abuse)
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Child Abuse
More Serious, Extended the Abuse, The More Subsequent
Delinquency
Caretaker more Likely to Abuse (Women more Likely to Abuse)
Sexual Abuse:
1. Pryor’s Work on Pedophiles
Aggressor Defines Kids as Sexual
Blurs Society’s Line between Adults and Kids
Blurring is often Rooted in Sexual Victimization
Women are often Abusers
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Child Abuse
Sexual Abuse:
1. Pryor’s Work on Pedophiles
Aggressor Defines Kids as Sexual
Blurs Society’s Line between Adults and Kids
Blurring is often Rooted in Sexual Victimization
Women are often Abusers
2. Problems with Secret Sex
Adults Break Rules
You can get away with Delinquency
Power Issues
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Child Abuse
Sexual Abuse:
2. Problems with Secret Sex
Adults Break Rules
You can get away with Delinquency
Power Issues
3. Teen Prostitution
Linked to Abuse (Runaways)
Learn of Adult Desire through Abuse
Conventional Options are Limited
Family and Juvenile Delinquency
Causes of Child Abuse
1. History of Abuse (Learn kids should be treated badly)
2. Unrelated Adult in Household
3. Anti-Social, Isolated Families
4. Parents Misunderstanding Child’s Psychology
5. Social and Economic Stressors (Abuse Restores Power and
Vents Aggression)