Family Influences on Criminal Behavior: Social Process Theories, Slides of Criminology

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Social process theories

Psychological & sociological

Social process

 Criminality is a function of individual socialization and the social psychological interactions people have with the various institutions and processes of society  Socialization: process by which an individual’s behavior is shaped in conforming with the standards of the culture

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The Family & Crime

Characteristics of families

 A variety of studies have been done  Common patterns  Two-way street: easy babies have less maladjustment than difficult babies  1. Inconsistent discipline (not to be confused with being lenient-- ”woodshed” theory is too simplistic)  Consider this from a learning theory standpoint

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Family characteristics

 2. Poor supervision  3. High levels of family conflict, escalation  4. Parental deviance, such as parental substance abuse, parental criminality (often in the past) and maternal depression  5. Large family size (supervision issue)  6. Poor living conditions

Characteristics of families

 8. Broken homes  Early studies showed a relationship, later studies have not been definitive  In the earlier studies, one parent homes less common  Stigma and difficulty of obtaining a divorce  Stigma attached to unmarried mothers

Characteristics of families

 This picture has changed. Single parent homes doubled in 30 years.  It is probably not surprising that more recent studies would have different results  Problems with studies: records do not tell about home dynamics, such as level of conflict.

Characteristics

 The major variable appears to be amount of supervision. Families in which there is adequate supervision, whether the mother is helped by other relatives, paid caretakers, etc..., are not at high risk for delinquency.  This is also the case for very young mothers, whose children are at risk.

Major factors

 Age  Educational level  Financial status  Social capital

Woodlawn

 Suggest that both individual and family factors play a role, each adding to possible risk or non-risk.

Attachment

 Final family characteristic predictive of delinquency:  9. Attachment--lack of a warm, supportive parent-child relationship  Attachment: a strong affectional tie  Babies do not show an obvious preference for a particular adult during the first few months of life

Attachment (cont)

 Children who do not form a strong attachment typically have problems, including school difficulties, lack of empathy for others, and dysfunctional relationships  In some cases there may even be failure to thrive  Harlow’s monkeys

Attachment (cont.)

 Factors which hinder attachment/ bonding  Unattractiveness, illness, irritable baby, handicaps, chronic stress, chaotic environment  Protective factors  Being attractive, healthy, an “easy” baby, stable environment

Attachment (cont)

 Bond affects cognitive development--the thinking is that the adult gives the child a secure base from which to explore  Bond affects social competence later  From a learning theory standpoint, love and approval play a significant role in teaching behaviors.

Attachment (cont)

 If there is not a bond, then the child will not care about love and approval from the parent, and the parent will be less able to control the child. In adolescence, once the child is bigger and stronger, a parent can control only through approval/disapproval.