Family vs. Peers and Delinquency, Research Paper Example

Family and peer relationships with the youth relate to delinquency because these individuals influence their behaviors from an early age (Siegel & Walsh, 2014). Behaviors of friends and family members work to help juveniles come to understand which actions are considered normal and which are abnormal. Studies have shown that children from households in which their parents have abusive relationships predispose the children for having similar experiences. Furthermore, when parenting is inconsistent, children never truly learn right from wrong and therefore have trouble applying society’s rules in their own lives. Friends are also a major influence because juveniles spend large portions of their time with these individuals as well. When their friends become more likely to engage in criminal behavior, they are likely to join in and participate. These relationships have the potential to change during the youth’s development, fostering a changed perspective of life that could help them remain on the correct track. However, this effect is situational and depends upon the individual.

It is important to consider that family disruption can have a long-lasting effect on the individual. These individuals often have a low self-esteem as a result of family conflict and need to determine right from wrong without assistance (Mullens, 2004). This can result in a morphed sense of what behaviors are acceptable and which should be avoided. In positive relationships, effective parenting can help negate outside influences by guiding the child during his or her development. On the other hand, children raised in broken homes are more likely to exhibit antisocial behavior and hyperactivity, demonstrating that there is a clear impact on the behavior of these individuals. Researchers also postulate that children that observe abuse in their own homes are more likely to become mentally disturbed and act as bullies among their peers.

While parental influence is the most important component during early child development, juveniles tend to seek out their own peer groups during adolescence, and these groups therefore have a heavy influence of the type of person that the juvenile will become. When individuals are accepted by their peers, juveniles experience higher degrees of self-esteem than if they are rejected by their peers. Rejection can lead to aggression, disruption, and antisocial behavior. To foster a sense of belonging, some juveniles join gangs. These gangs are involved in varying degrees of criminal activity and violent behavior. The strong bonds formed with gang members help facilitate a feeling of safety. However, individuals in gangs are more likely to commit their role to a criminal lifestyle compared to individuals who have friends that are not in gangs.

Because juveniles can regularly switch friend groups during their adolescence, it is possible for these relationships to change during the youth’s development. However, the relationship between a juvenile and their parents is less likely to change because this association always builds on past events. Thus, even if parents were likely to reduce their levels of abuse, the memory of this abuse is still within their child’s mind and continues to act his or her behavior. However, by the time that adolescents reach maturity, they have an enhanced ability to control their decisions and affiliations. As a consequence, these individuals can be provided with structural support and assistance in the form of social support later in life to help them change their behaviors and lifestyles. While this does not happen for the majority of people, it is important to consider that those who recognize that there is something ethically wrong about their behavior can change.

References

Mullens, A.D. (2004). The Relationship Between Juvenile Delinquency and Family Unit Structure. Marshall University. Retrieved from http://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1743&context=etd

Siegel, L.J., Welsh, B.C. (2014). Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law. Wadsworth Publishing.