SOCI-321 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Juvenile Delinquency, Dysfunctional Family, Parenting Styles
18 Jun 2018
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SOCI 321 – Chapter 7 – Family, School, Peers
Family
Part of the issue is what we define as "functional" or "dysfunctional" family
oTendency of the media to characterize a dysfunctional family as only having 1 parent
oThere are other, more appropriate, ways to look at the issue
1.Family Structure
oBroken home hypothesis: Children from divorced families as more likely to be
delinquent
This isn't the case
Research on this impact has found that the relationship is weak at best (based
on meta-analyses)
Affects are greater for boys than girls
Lack of a control group in many of these studies makes it difficult too
draw firm conclusions
2.Parenting
oThe issue is not how many parents or the gender of parents, but it's about the parenting
style
oChildren whose parents behave in poor parenting practices are more likely to engage in
deviant behaviour
Poor parenting practices are passed on from generation to generation because
most people learn how to do this through their experience with their own parents
o"Poor parenting" has been relatively subjective, based on the researcher's perspective
oExample: Recent survey examining parenting styles
Ineffective-Hostile
Punitive aversive
Consistent
Positive
oParenting styles have far more impact than family structure or income
Interaction between child and parent is a far greater predictive element of child
delinquency
SES may influence the parenting style, but SES alone is not highly correlated
with delinquency
oFamily interaction factors that have an influence:
Control and Supervision
Being involved in what the child is doing
Identity Support
Support for their sense of self worth
Caring and Trust
When those in positions of authority demonstrate that they trust, it
really empowers the individual being trusted and strengthens feelings of self
worth
Research supports that caring and trust are critical
Intimate Communication
Parents who are able to talk about things that are important and
sensitive
For this to happen, you have to have caring and trust
Instrumental Communication
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Communication about how to behave and what is considered
appropriate
Doesn't have to be verbal
Peers
Related to parental supervision: Knowing what your kids are doing and
who they are with
Parental approval and disapproval of peers is also a demonstration of
parental control and supervision, as well as caring and trust
Conflict in the Home
Could be between parents and children, or sibling rivalry, and how
those conflicts are handled
2.Meaning of Family Attachment
oResearch looking at social bonds and family attachment
Shows that when children have strong attachment to the family, they are less
likely to engage in delinquent behaviour
oReasons for lack of attachment to the family:
Abusive family
Some kids on the streets feel safer there than in their home
3.Consequences of "Bad" Family Relationships
oMatt Le Blanc
Quebec being focused on prevention as opposed to reactionary; a social welfare
approach
Children exposed to physical violence are more likely to be violent, engage in
property crime, and bully
Quebec has govt programs that work with parents to become more effective
parents
oDifference between delinquent girls and delinquent boys
Unethical to apply the findings of delinquent boys to delinquent girls
Cannot account for delinquency of girls without recognizing the patriarchal
society
4.The "Bad Seed" and Invisible Victims
oFocuses on 2 things:
Delinquent children because of parental failure
Deviant parents = Deviant children
Holding parents responsible for the acts of their children
Some places have legislation that allows parents to pay
damages for their children or to also be charged
Tough love
Idea that you have to be stern/strict with children in terms of control
and discipline
oParents have rights that the children do not
oChildren as victims are almost invisible
Children are more likely to be killed by their father (or mother) than a stranger
School
Previously thought that one of the ways of addressing delinquent youth was through schools
oSupposed correlation between lack of education and being a delinquent
oQuestions began to arise of how effective the school really is for decreasing delinquency
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Soci 321 chapter 7 family, school, peers. Part of the issue is what we define as functional or dysfunctional family o o. Tendency of the media to characterize a dysfunctional family as only having 1 parent. There are other, more appropriate, ways to look at the issue. Broken home hypothesis: children from divorced families as more likely to be delinquent. Research on this impact has found that the relationship is weak at best (based on meta-analyses) Lack of a control group in many of these studies makes it difficult too draw firm conclusions. The issue is not how many parents or the gender of parents, but it"s about the parenting style o. Children whose parents behave in poor parenting practices are more likely to engage in deviant behaviour. Poor parenting practices are passed on from generation to generation because most people learn how to do this through their experience with their own parents o o.
