FINAL DISCUSSION BOARD
Jean2979
Lecture5.pptxChapter 8
Delinquency and the Family
Basic Facts
26% of all children live in a single parent household
25% of all children born today are to single teen parents
By 2020, it is estimated that 38% of all children will live in single parent homes
85% Female, 15% Male
While this number is down, the divorce rate is now over 50%
The percentage of single parent kids in 1960 – 4%, 1980 – 14%,
2000 – 20%
The family Concept
From 1880 to 1990, a family was identified by it’s “extended” nature. Even in 1980, nearly 96% of all single parent families involved child rearing responsibilities of a non-parental family figure
After 1990, the extended family gave way to the “nuclear family” concept. For the first time in American history, the majority of single parent families involved a single parent raising children without the assistance of non-parental family figure.
As of 2012, only 3% of single parent households utilize non-parental family figures in child rearing.
More Facts
As of 2012, 60% of all U.S. children are enrolled in pre-K licensed child care facilities.
20% of all U.S. children are enrolled in “underground” unlicensed child care facilities involving a non-parent
15% of all children live in households that earn below the U.S. poverty line
63% of all children, living with a single mother, are in poverty.
73% of all single mothers work, though 87% earn minimum wage
While children in single parent homes make up just over one quarter of the population, they commit over 75% of all juvenile crime.
Five Family Influences
Generally, social-psychologists have identified five area of family conflict that directly influence the mental health of children:
1) Economic Stress
As discussed on earlier sociology theories, there has long been a correlation between economic hardship and crime. Children that live in poverty, as shown to have a much greater chance of being delinquent. Considering the high level of poverty in single parent households, crime can be seen to correlate to the functioning family structure.
More influences
The breakup of the family
Divorce (or separation in the case of no marriage) has long been seen as a precursor of delinquent behavior. Studies have generally concluded that:
Secure marriages produce the lowest percentage of juvenile crime, followed by blended families, and finally single parent families.
Divorce causes feelings of anger insecurity in children. How children react to this depends on the financial health of the single parent, the age of the children at separation, and the security of the home after divorce.
More on Divorce
Most studies on divorce deal with the impact of a child not having a father present in their life.
Boys are shown to be most affected by the absence of a father in their lives, especially in the areas of discipline.
Girls are more negatively affected by negative parenting skills of a mother. Girls tend to be more accepting of the limitations of parenting skills of a father.
Cultural acceptance of divorce can affect a child in their attempts as re-socialization
Children are more affected by negative parenting and marital skills of a parent, than by their absence. The concept of “staying married for the benefit of the children” has largely been debunked.
More categories
Family Conflict
A child’s perception of the overall happiness and satisfaction of a parent has been found to be a major precursor of delinquency. Children who grow up in a household where there is perceived conflict and unhappiness in children, has been shown to directly lead to maladjustment.
Children who witness continual conflict between involving their parents, have the greatest rates of emotional and maturation problems.
Statistics on Conflict
The rate of delinquency of children who are victims of abuse, is IDENTICAL to those who witness abuse
Children in broken homes have delinquency rates IDENTICAL to those who are in married high conflict homes
Children growing up in single parent homes marked by the death of a parent, have no greater rates of delinquency than married households. Parental absence is NOT a predictor of delinquency.
More Statistics
Remarriage does not lessen the effects of divorce on children, who witness marital conflict
Continued contact on a non-custodial parent who was seen as a source of conflict, has little effect on a child’s well-being
Continued conflict between parents after a divorce, has the same negative effect on children as conflict in a married home.
Parental divorce raises the likelihood of teenage marriage. This is seen as a child’s response to the insecurity of the home.
Competence
Family Competence
Family Competence refers parenting skill. It is clear that some parents are more effective, engaged, and educated in their approach to raising children. The overall ability of a parent to competently raise their child is seen as the MOST important factor in a child’s development.
So what makes for good parenting? Obviously, there are many competing view here.
Good Parenting
Documented standards for effective parenting include the following:
Parental Efficacy – Studies have shown that delinquency rates are reduced in households that provide:
Structure
Close emotional relationships
Emotional support
Encouragement of self-regulation (versus fear)
Encouragement of Individualism
More Good Parenting
Inconsistent Discipline
Consistent studies have shown that the use of corporal punishment does not deter delinquency. The fear of physical punishment is not a deterrent to a child’s criminal behavior
The vast majority of juvenile delinquents come form homes with inconsistent discipline responses to behavioral delinquency
More Parenting Skills
Inconsistent and Ineffective Supervision
Supervision by non-familial and inconsistent environments
Resource dilution (parental distractions)
To emphasize the importance of the aspect of parenting skills, several studies have shown that strong parenting skills can reduce the rate of delinquency of blended family single family households, to the level of children in two parent homes.
Last One
Family Deviance
Criminal activities by parents are viewed as the most significant precursor of deviant activities by children. Children that witness criminal activity by a parent are likely to repeat this behavior themselves.
8% of boys with a non-criminal father will go on to commit a juvenile crime
37% of boys with a criminal father will go on to commit a juvenile crime
Repeating criminal behavior of a parent can be witnessed in nearly every type of criminal behavior, including domestic violence, substance abuse and theft.
Why is Crime Generational
Many theories exist as to why criminal delinquency is a generational issue. Some crime specific issues are:
Inherited Genetic Factors
Exposure to Violence begets more violence
Substance Abuse is a learned behavior and reaction
Criminal parents are lacking in parenting skills, due to their focus on their own vices
Children who are sexually abused learn have their own sexuality altered, making them deviants themselves.
Crime can also be passed on from Parent, to child, to sibling. Children learn behavior from siblings, as much as they do from parents.
Child Abuse
The lecture on child abuse is included in the online portion of the class.
This week the online portion will focus on sexual abuse, and next week on physical abuse
While there is NO question that child abuse severely damages the psychology of a child, it is not really a theory as to delinquency. Children in these circumstances are victims, and victims of any crime may have emotional issues dealing with victimization.
There are other classes in the CRJ program that specifically deal with victimization. I also believe that victimization can be included in the subcategories of Family Deviance and Family Competence
Class Project
Looking at the five factors influencing an effective family, rank them in the order in which you think delinquency rates are adversely affected
Focusing on your main familial delinquency influence, list three government sponsored initiatives that you believe could be used to combat this issue. Be specific.
Using a unified theory of crime discussed in the last chapter, which of the three approaches (General Theory (Social Bond and Influences), Psychotherapy, or Labeling Theory) do you believe would be most effective, when used in conjunction with your initiatives?
