NCJ Number
75155
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The influences of the family, school, and peer group on juveniles in Nepal are discussed, emphasizing their relationship to juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
Juvenile delinquency should be examined in an environmental context and not only as the characteristic of an individual adolescent. Proper assessment of environmental factors facilitates development of effective treatment strategies. The family plays the most significant role in the child's development. In Nepal, family ties are important, and up to 100 family members may interact with each other. Children are expected to respect their elders and obey the advice of the family patriarch. However, in the urban areas, where only 4 percent of the population resides, families often lack cohesiveness, and delinquent behavior may result. Such behavior is less common in rural areas. Furthermore, the influences of Western civilization in both rural and urban areas have tended to weaken family ties and obedience and encourage juvenile delinquency. The school plays the second most significant role in the influencing of juvenile behavior. If children cannot receive the love and protection they need in school, they may develop behavioral problems. In addition, such problems may develop where schools are unable to provide children from lower social classes with equal opportunities for education. Finally, children's peer groups, in Nepal as elsewhere, can influence their development. Children are often easily influenced by the behavior of others, and if they associate with juveniles who indulge in delinquent behavior, they may become offenders themselves.