NCJ Number
54124
Journal
BRA (BROTTSFOREBYGGANDE RADET) - APROPA Issue: 3 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1978) Pages: 37-40
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE PART OF FAMILY UPBRINGING IN FORMATION OF WEAK OR STRONG EGOS, AND ULTIMATELY IN DETERMINING THE POTENTIAL FOR DELINQUENCY, IS DISCUSSED ALONG WITH RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS.
Abstract
SINCE STATISTICAL DATA INDICATE THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS A TEMPORARY CONDITION IN ADOLESCENTS AND THAT IT IS USUALLY OUTGROWN, SWEDISH AUTHORITIES ARE ALL TOO SATISFIED TO RESIST ADJUDICATING JUVENILES ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THESE JUVENILES WILL EVENTUALLY REHABILITATE THEMSELVES. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, HOWEVER, IS TIED TO A COMPLEX GROUP OF VARIABLES, ONE OF WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO PARENT'S ABILITY TO MANAGE THEIR CHARGES AND PASS ON NECESSARY ROLE MODELS. CHILDREN WORK INNATELY TOWARD SOME GOALS--LEARNING TO WALK OR TALK, FOR EXAMPLE. BUT OTHER DESIRES FOR ACHIEVEMENT MUST BE PARENTALLY INSPIRED AND SUPPORTED. PARENTS MUST PRESENT ROLE FIGURES THAT INSPIRE RESPECT, DEMAND REASONABLE OBEDIENCE, AND EMIT LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE CHILD EVEN IN PERIODS OF CONFLICT WITH THAT CHILD. PARENTS MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO ASSIST CHILDREN IN UNDERSTANDING NORMS AND IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND COPING BY BOTH EXAMPLE AND ACTION. CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE AREAS ARE LIKELY TO BE EGO-STRONG WHILE THOSE WHOSE PARENTS FAIL IN THESE AREAS ARE LIKELY TO BE EGO-WEAK, AND HIGH RISKS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. THEY ARE OFTEN RESTLESS, NEUROTIC, UNHAPPY, AND GREATLY IN NEED OF CONTACT WITH OTHERS. THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE SATISFYING RELATIONSHIPS IS HINDERED, HOWEVER, BY LACK OF TRUST. RESEARCH IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY SHOULD FOCUS ON HOW THE STRUCTURES OF SOCIETY CAN SUPPORT AND ASSIST PARENTS IN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN THRIVE AND IN DECIDING WHICH SOCIAL NORMS ARE RELEVANT AND SHOULD BE PASSED ON TO YOUTH.--IN SWEDISH (DAG)