SOC-428 Midterm

1.Family relations play a significant part in determining whether a certain member of a household is prone to engaging in delinquent behavior; accordingly, a "dysfunctional" family puts this to effect. Then again, the term "dysfunctional family" is very vague since there is quite a number of contexts from which it could be viewed; however, for the sake of simplifying, a family is considered "dysfunctional" when it comes to oppose the essence of being a "proper" one, which is, apparently, a family that is intact, impervious to any form of violence and receptively interactive among one another CITATION Ani11 \l 1033 (Doggett, 2005). However, because there developed a sense of indifference - if not wholly acceptance - in society for the emerging aberration of circumstances, the depiction of a "proper" family no longer applies precisely as with its initial account, especially at the point where it`s stressed that a family needs be intact. For this case in particular, I refer to the increasing number of "modern families". These so-called "modern families" are those households that have been deemed unconventional or of inappropriate structure and system - i.e. single parents, stepparenting, homosexual parents, and so on. In effect to its irregularity, this disposition often takes blame for the misbehavior of a certain member of the family, which usually is the child or adolescent. Elrod and Ryder (2011) clarify this common misconception:
"Research that has not discovered a relationship between single-parent homes and delinquency suggests that what is most important is not whether youths come from a single-parent family or a two-parent family, but the quality of the relationship that exists between those parents that are present and their children"
In point of fact, there is no hard evidence so far which supports the relation of the structure of a family to the delinquency of a person. Furthermore, there are those significant factors to consider which are actually involved in shaping the family`s wholesomeness; and that is by the larger social context by which they are compelled to adapt, like, say, the economic and sociocultural aspects that affect them CITATION Elr11 \l 1033 (Elrod & Ryder, 2011). Correspondingly, it is the bond shared between both parties - parents and children - which especially challenge the character of a person; for example, if parents frequently ignore - intentionally or otherwise - their child, the tendency is that the child will be left unmonitored and unguided and thus, his resolving to delinquency. Additionally, individuals who grew up in a home fostered by a lack of mutual understanding, lack of warmth and affection, hostility, family conflict, etc. are also inclined to demonstrate delinquency CITATION Ani11 \l 1033 (Doggett, 2005).
Meanwhile, outside factors, i.e. employment, does not necessarily mean that parents can no longer spend time with their child; as a matter of fact, the point is not how long they spend with the child but rather how they spend it together. Apparently, what counts as important in the parent-child relationship is the proper supervision the former has to offer and the quality of their time spent together CITATION Elr11 \l 1033 (Elrod & Ryder, 2011).
On the whole, delinquency doesn`t account for on the basis of the family structure at all - whether the family is governed by a single parent or two, heterosexual or homosexual, and of a large number or few; instead, it is founded upon the lack of mutual connection shared between the parent and the child and, of course, the significant impact caused by certain discords of family life. Conversely, in handling and/or preventing juvenile delinquency, it is important to practice positive parent-child relations; therefore, creating a compromising environment not only for the delinquency-susceptible child but for his parents as well.
2.At some point, parents exhaust their patience over their children that then tend to lead to "disciplinary action" and this impatience is usually the result children being aggressive, defiant and oppositional. Though it may be as such, there arises the question as to how children turn to this unpleasant behavior - and despite the parents` intentions, they are accountable to this developing character, too, to some degree. Juvenile delinquency may be one that influences parents to shift to ineffective parenting styles; however, I do not necessarily believe that it is a main influencer to its approach nor do I find it indispensible to employ.
Children reach a certain stage when they begin to demand things and act aggressively; at this point, they also begin to play deaf to their parents` requests. Now, when things get out hand, some parents would give in and some would resort to punishments. For the latter group, some children would perceive this as something to be afraid of and taken seriously so they will comply to their parents` rules and requests so as to avoid getting punished; but then for some other children, they would only amplify their actions in hopes that their parents would eventually stop the punishment and just give in to their demand.
"Gerald R. Patterson of the Oregon Social Learning Center has documented a cycle of interaction between parent and child that he calls "coercive" (1982, 1995). It can begin with a relatively trivial demand, such as a parent asking a child to do, or not do, something. The child ignores the request or refuses to comply. Then the parent responds more aggressively, scolding, nagging, or pleading; the child again refuses, whining, or talking back. The exchanges escalate to yelling and threats, hitting and temper tantrums, until the parent finally gives up and gives in—or explodes into violence—and then the child stops, too." CITATION Kai09 \l 1033 (Kaiser & Rasminsky, 2009)
More often than not, people feel that placing a child under harsh punishments when having committed a misdeed would teach him a lesson. On the contrary, uncontrolled inappropriate parenting methods only urge the child to pursue the challenge and thus practice further obstinacy and engage in delinquent activities.
Moreover, there are external factors which influence the pursuit of the parents` aggressive behavior CITATION Hal10 \l 1033 (Halpenny, Nixon, & Watson, 2010). They might not easily recognize the fact that the stress rooted from their personal lives, i.e. work, friends, etc., are indirectly affecting the way they respond toward their children. Sometimes, these stresses are simultaneously triggered especially when the child starts to provoke the parent by relentlessly displaying annoying tactics, nagging, whining, and so on; thus, resulting to the parent`s outburst.
Parents are indeed humans, too. And it is understandable that they are capable of losing control of themselves at times. Nevertheless, utilizing inappropriate disciplining of the child (such which involves physical or verbal offense) is no longer the child`s fault. Being as they are already adults and capable of thinking rationally, parents` should know how to secure their children and more importantly, themselves. Fostering a mutual understanding between the parent and the child comes as an important solution to this predicament as well.
3.Robert L. Burgess and Ronal L. Akers developed the differential association-reinforcement theory which is a modified version of Edwin H. Sutherland`s differential association theory; their approach specifically targ...