NCJ Number
58791
Date Published
1978
Length
29 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN VANDALISM AND OTHER DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS DISCUSSED, AND AN INTERVENTION STRATEGY FOR REDUCING VANDALISM IS OUTLINED.
Abstract
RESEARCH ON VANDALISM PER SE IS SPARSE AND USUALLY IS SUBSUMED UNDER GENERAL STUDIES OF DELINQUENCY. THEORIES OF CAUSATION FOCUS ON EITHER INTRAPSYCHIC, SOCIOCULTURAL, OR FAMILIAL DIMENSIONS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING VANDALISM. CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN COUNSELING MIDDLE-CLASS ADOLESCENTS SUGGESTS THAT A STRONG FAMILIAL FACTOR IS PRESENT IN MOST CASES OF VANDALISM BY MIDDLE-CLASS YOUTHS. THE FAMILIES OF YOUNG VANDALS SHARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS: POOR, GENERALLY NEGATIVE COMMUNICATION AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS; INCONSISTENT LIMITS ON CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR; CHILDREN'S EFFORTS TO PROVOKE LIMITS BY ENGAGING IN FLAGRANT MISBEHAVIOR; PARENTAL DENIAL OF CHILDREN'S PROBLEMS OR VICARIOUS SATISFACTION IN CHILDREN'S ACTING-OUT BEHAVIOR; FEELINGS OF POWERLESSNESS TO AFFECT OTHER PERSONS OR EVENTS; PROBLEMS IN HANDLING ANGER; INAPPROPRIATE PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS; AND PARENTAL NEED FOR PROBLEM CHILDREN TO SERVE AS FAMILY SCAPEGOATS. VANDALISM AND OTHER DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR CAN BE UNDERSTOOD ONLY IF THE RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG INTRAPSYCHIC, INTRAFAMILIAL, AND SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CENTRAL ROLE OF THE FAMILY AS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL CHILD AND SOCIETY. FOUR LEVELS OF INTERVENTION APPEAR APPROPRIATE IN DEALING WITH VANDALISM: (1) SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION, (2) REPARATION (AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VANDALS TO DEVELOP A CAPACITY FOR EMPATHY), (3) FAMILY THERAPY, AND (4) SOCIAL CHANGE AIMED AT ELIMINATING POVERTY AND OTHER CONDITIONS THAT BREED FAMILY PROBLEMS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)