Families, Delinquency and Crime

Paper Summary:

The paper explains the coercion model of delinquent behavior that posits that mutual training between a parent and a child can lead to juvenile delinquency, and the social control theory and its four elements. The paper shows how the social control theory explains the prevalence of modern youth gangs. The paper opines that it is difficult to determine which theory is more applicable to the development of delinquency. The paper concludes, however, that the social control model seems more intuitive, because it emphasizes the importance of society as a whole on the development of the child.

From the Paper:

"There are several theories that have been suggested to explain juvenile delinquency. In fact, almost every theory of social interaction could be said to describe the cause of delinquent behavior. However, some theories appear to have more merit than others, because they take help explain why some children become delinquent in certain home environments, while other children do not become delinquent, despite coming from a similar environment. One theory that helps explain the difference is the coercion model of delinquent behavior, which is largely based on the theory of mutual training. Parenting with consequences is one way that people suggest to avoid raising a delinquent; however the theory of mutual training recognizes that adults, as well as children, are affected by the consequences of their actions. Social control theory differs in that, instead of asking why some people do not conform to social norms, it focuses on why so many people do conform to social norms, given that human beings enter the world as basically selfish creatures."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Simon, R., Simon, L., & L. Wallace. (2004). Families, Delinquency and Crime: Linking Society's most Basic Institution to Antisocial Behavior. City of Publication: Publisher.

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• Article Review # 107648 : "Family Delinquency and Crime"

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