Love and Delinquency, Essay Example

Age-graded theory explains that stability can exist in families as a consequence of loving relationships. Thus, when partners engage in a loving relationship, they are more likely to contribute to the well-being of their family. Sociologists have shown that it is equally important for juveniles to pursue their own meaningful relationships as they break free from the restraints of their parents. When juveniles transition to independence, they need support systems in place to do so successfully and in a healthy manner. Research has shown that children that grow up with warm and loving parents are more likely to enter in this type of relationship themselves. This is beneficial because this type of relationship is more likely to be long-lasting. On the other hand, when children do not grow up with parents in a loving relationship, such as homes with single parents with no involvement of the other parent and relationships with active abuse and violence, juveniles become more likely to find themselves in this category of relationship. However, additional studies have shown that it is the quality of parenting, not the quality of the relationship that contribute to a juvenile’s ability to engage in positive relationships with others. It appears that parents in loving relationships tend to be more able to offer constructive advice to their children than those who are abused or in unstable relationships. In spite of this, good parents could come from either category. However, it appears to be more challenging for parents in abusive relationships to offer good advice to their children when they themselves have problems they need to cope with. These examples can reasonably explain why children that come from families with poor relationships tend to have poor relationships themselves. They do not always receive the decision making support they need as children, which impacts their decision making ability as adults.