STUDENT/PROFESSOR REPLIES

DISCUSSION #2 STUDENT REPLIES

PLEASE USE CLASS REFERENCES ON THESE 2 QUESTIONS THANKS….

STUDENT REPLY #1 Elisha Burnett

Certain parental styles and practices appear to correlate and lead to or influence criminal behavior more so than others (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). Since the majority of behavior is learned from environmental factors, parents may have a significant essential impact on their children’s behavior and development (Woolfolk & Perry, 2015). Based on the information provided, Sandra and Joseph Keen would fall under the type of neglecting style of parental styles and practices (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). Joseph Keen held the occupation of a long-haul truck driver or would be in prison. This lifestyle allowed Joseph Keen to spend very little time or participate much in family affairs. Joseph Keen was a negligent, mostly absent parent.

Sandra Keen, although having more of an opportunity to be an involved parent, placed addiction and substance abuse as having greater importance in her life than her children. Sandra Keen remains emotionally unavailable, unengaged, and detached as a parental figure (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). Joseph Keen was sent to prison after the assault and attempted to murder Sandra Keen, in which Shawn Keen intervened. This reported act of domestic violence suggests that Shawn and Tracey Keen most likely observed or were exposed to violence and criminal behavior throughout their childhood. Scientific research studies have analyzed a correlation between childhood exposure to violence and illegal activity and an increase in the chance the child will display or participate in criminal behavior (Howell, Cater, Miller, Schwartz & Graham, 2017).

Shawn Keen’s peer influences consist of a group of friends or a delinquent gang that partake in criminal behavior. Through association and social interaction experience, Shawn is encouraged by his social environment to display imitational learning, in which he learns from his peers’ criminal behavior (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). Tracey Keen’s peer influences include her boyfriend Victor that displays criminal behavior. Tracy Keen’s peer influence Victor supports the differential association-reinforcement theory in which Victor’s illegal means of acquiring funds reinforces the normative message and values in favor of law violation (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). These social interactions and environmental factors act to reiterate, encourage, and normalize criminal behavior.

Due to Sandra and Joseph Keen’s negligent parenting style, Shawn and Tracey experienced operant conditioning in which they did not receive guidance or discouragement for their delinquent behavior but rather positive reinforcement by gaining attention from Sandra when they acquired drugs for her (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). The criminal behavior and activity were once again positively reinforced when Shawn and Tracey gained approval and encouragement from their peers. Punishments such as suspension or expulsion were mild in comparison to the social rewards received; therefore, the behavior continued. Sandra Keen only received probation which paled in the reward of satisfying her addiction, reinforcing the criminal behavior (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). Joseph Keen observed prison as a great opportunity to brag about his criminal behavior instead of viewing it as punishment. Since the Keen family expects little to no significant consequences for their criminal behavior but relatively positive conditioning and reinforcement, the behavior continues (Bartol & Bartol, 2017).

References

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2017). Criminal behavior: A psychological approach (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Howell, K. H., Cater, Å. K., Miller, G. L. E., Schwartz, L. E., & Graham, B. S. A. (2017). The relationship between types of childhood victimisation and young adulthood criminality. Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health, 27(4), 341–353. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1002/cbm.2002

Woolfolk, A., & N. E. Perry. (2015). Child and adolescent development (2nd ed.). Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

DISCUSSION #2 STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #2 Tracee Sheppard

After reading about the Keen family, I noticed the mother do not discipline their children and do not wish to. Their children are not getting the attention and love they need at home. Sandra allows her son to get into fights without any punishments. Their daughter dropped out of high school her junior year after being expelled for attacking a teacher. In my opinion, Sandra parenting style is individualistic since she lets them do what they want to in the household

Sandra is an acholic and drug user; her mind is not in the right place, making her ignore her children and be apathetic. Sandra lost her job from stealing opiates, which may have influenced her daughter to steal drugs from her boyfriend to give to her mother. Their father suffers from mood swings and rational behavior. Joseph's behavior could trigger their son's mood swings, resulting in him getting into fights at school. Joseph refuses to see a medical professional for his mood swings, impulsivity, and rational behavior. Unlike her father, Tracey seeks help for her bipolar disorder. She takes medication and sees a counselor 1-2 times weekly. Tracey and her mother are both currently on probation for making poor decisions. Luckily, Shawn has not been caught for his crimes yet.

I feel since her daughter does not get the endearment she wants from her mother. She provides her mother with drugs to get her awareness. She receives some reaction from her mother, which is like the daughter's reward. As the son, he acts out and participates in risky behavior because he Is longing for his mother's support and love because she is emotionally unavailable, and his father is in prison.

References

(n.d.). Retrieved from THE CRIMINAL MIND: https://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/CRJS/4102/profiles/index.html