Family conflicts
Many studies suggest that family conflicts are number one reason why some adolescents become deviant. In one study the researcher observed some deviant adolescents in their family setting. The researcher observed that most of these families had dominant father. There were more conflicting situations in these families. Conflicts, quarreling, and fighting were some common issues in these families. (Hengeller, 1987).
Family conflicts are the result of poor relationships between parents and children. In particular, poor relationships result from parents’ inability to talk to their kids. Also an inability to provide a healthy mix of control and freedom. Authoritative parenting can lead to conflicts and children hide their secrets. Conversely, very liberal parents give their children undue freedom. In short, a moderate way of parenting where kids can enjoy as much freedom as is their right is the right way of parenting.
Financial problems
Poverty is the key factors contributing to high juvenile delinquency rates, says Cuentas, A. 2018. Because, in a society where money is everything, poor economical situation can lead the youth to crime. For instance, adolescents commit crime because they think in this way they can earn a living. Obviously, financial problems can lead to crimes and deviation. But does that mean that there is no solution to it. There is a growing concern that how to reduce crimes that are the result of poverty.
Many studies suggest that poor financial family situation results from lack of management of resources. For example, overspending is one reason for economic crisis. As a result of overspending the youth may not learn the value of family relationships. Besides this, these kids will always take money above their moral, family, societal, and cultural values. In short, these kids will readily engage in crimes because they value money.
Families should know how to keep a control over their spending pattern. Especially, they should teach kids how to spend wisely. Also, how to keep family and their values above money and monetary things.
Marital abuse
Some studies suggests that a bad marriage is worse than single parenting for the child. For instance, a single parent cannot act like both mother or father but at least a single parent can raise a positive child. On the contrary, marital abuse and bad marriage can only add to the misery of the child. Hence, it will have long lasting impacts on the cognition and behavior of the child. As a result, the child will suffer the whole life and it will be hard for him/her to change his mindset.
There is a positive relationship between marital abuse and adolescent delinquency. Most importantly the kids watch their parents engaging in aggressive talks and actions. As a result, they imitate this behavior in society, schools, with their younger siblings.
Child neglect and abuse
What would happen if the child himself is the recipient of the abuse and neglect from the parents? Child abuse is a growing concern with the juvenile delinquency prevention agencies. It is one of the most common reason children in later life engage in deviant activities. In short, the child receives abuse form parents and then acts like that.
A home is place where the child finds most comfortable, secure, protected, and emotionally connected. Most kids run away from the home if they could not receive the warmth and security that they should receive at home. They engage in criminal activities and do not want to go back to the unsafe home environment.
Various studies suggest that these kids can take part in serious and major crimes. For example, murder, rape, theft, robbery, and drug use are common criminal acts by these adolescents.
The key to raising a healthy adolescent is to have a healthy environment at home. As good parenting can help raise a well behaved adolescent, conversely, poor parenting can lead to delinquency, deviation, law breaking and non conformist adolescents.
References
- McCord, J. (Aug. 1991). “Family relationship, juvenile delinquency, andadult criminality. Wiley Online Library.
- Henggeler, S.W., Edwards, J. & Borduin, C.M. J Abnorm Child Psychology (1987) 15: 199. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916349
- Gove, R. W. and Robert D. C. (June, 1982). “Family and juvenile delinquency”. Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.1982.tb01014.x
- Wright, K. N. and K. E. Wright. (1993). “Family life and delinquency and crime”. Office of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.