Family, Deliquency and Crime Profile

Family, Deliquency and Crime

Profile and discussion

As Simon et al. (2004) point out, the connection between family life and environment and the causes of various types and degrees of antisocial and deviant behavior is being realized to a greater extent in studies and theories, especially with regards to deviant behavior among adolescents. The effect of family life and particularly of stress within the family on these forms of behavior has become increasingly relevant to the study of antisocial behavior.

The individual that has been profiled in this paper is named Gary. Gary is normally a conventionally behaved individual. However, in his late teens, he began to exhibit abnormal behavioral traits, including mood swings and violent behavior patterns, as well as an increasing tendency towards minor forms of criminal behavior. Gary is seventeen years of age and a student at high school. He has tended over the years to indulge in acts of violence in situations and circumstances that do not warrant these forms of behavior and are considered extremely antisocial. For example, he tends to overreact to some situations by using his fists and acting in a manner that is out of place in terms of his general demeanor.

As a result of these actions and behavior patterns there were certain consequences. Socially, Gary lost most of his friends because of his exhibitions of violent behavior at the slightest provocation, which resulted in his friends alienating him to a great degree. He also began to fall in with friends that accepted these forms of behavior as normal. Secondly, he was caught on a number of occasions for shop lifting and petty theft and was warned by the police and school authorities that any future occurrences of these actions would lead to possible legal actions and incarceration. He was also reprimanded by the school authorities and was continually in detention to in the principal's office. What must be emphasized is that these actions and deviant behavior patterns are a fairly recent phenomenon and do not seem to fit in with his character, which was previously outgoing and friendly. Most of his friends know him as a kind, considerate and pleasant person.

On analysis, it however becomes clears that this individual is displaying classic symptoms of pent-up rage and unexpressed emotions that are erupting in incongruous ways. This leads to the conclusion that there must be a social or environmental source for his actions. Various forms of psychological imbalance or illness are largely ruled out by his previously friendly and calm demeanor and the sporadic nature of his abnormal and negative social behavior. Other causes are also ruled out. His parents are relatively wealthy and there is would be no material reason for his shoplifting and theft..

After careful observation and analysis, certain environmental aspects became clear which have led to a number of theoretical and possibly practical conclusions. The rage that Gary expresses in his antisocial behavior patterns stems from his family environment. While he generally refuses to speak about his family, close friends have noted that he has referred on numerous occasions to his anger at this parent's possible divorce. There is also reference to an atmosphere of tension, aggression and recriminations in the home, as well as guilt in the family relationships. This has been substantiated by Gary himself who occasionally refers his home life with phrases like;" I can't go home, they are fighting again" and statements like " my father hit my mother," which he attempts to pass off as a joke. From this evidence, one can deduce that Gary's antisocial and deviant behavior is directly related to the family environment in which he lives.

In terms of the theories that are put forward in the book by Simon et al. (2004), Gary's profile conforms to a number of theoretical perspectives. In general however this profile tends to concur with the point made by the authors that the criminal behavior is largely a result of lax or ineffective parenting. (Simon et al., 2004, p.15) as this book states, there are numerous studies that refer to the importance of family and home environment as well as problematic parenting in the development of developmental antisocial tendencies. This also refers to larger problems when these become permanent behavior patterns and extend into later life. (Simon et al., 2004, p.15)

Furthermore, parents are seen as "primary argents of socializations" of children and therefore they play a major role in the creation of negative and "abnormal "tendencies in developing children. (Simon et al., 2004, p.16)

Theorists like Gleuck and others argue that the family environment is the most important determining factor of delinquent behavior (Simon et al., 2004, p.18)

If we consider these theories then this would suggest that the central problem, as well as the possible solutions to Gary's antisocial and criminal behavior, lies with some form of family therapy.

One could also relate this profile to aspects of control theory. This theory posits the view that one must take account of the mechanisms that cause these transformations in the individual. (Simon et al., 2004, p.20) According to the form of social control theory that was put forward by Hirsch, one of the elements that cause abnormal and antisocial behavior is a lack of a sense of attachment to society. Attachment is the degree to which an individual feels cared for and close to important social figures, such as parent and teachers. This theoretical framework seems to fit the profile that has been discussed to some extent. It is evident that Gary has become detached from those around him, possibly because the bond between himself and his parents has been broken and distorted due to their stressful relationship.

However, possibly the most appropriate theory that can be used to describe the entire situation more holistically is social learning theory. This theory suggests that children are neither good nor bad but that they develop antisocial or prosocial tendencies in their interaction with their environment. Social learning theory focuses on "...the reciprocal or mutual influences that exist between parents and children" (Simon et al., 2004, p.33).