Is Crime Inevitable for Children Born into Certain Families?

Main part

Nature and nurture have huge impact on the behavior of individual. The term nature can be considered as genetic and heredity factors that contribute to the development of child into a criminal (Finkelhor and Hamby, 2013). On the other hand, nurture can be considered as environmental criminogenic factors that influence the behavior of the child. In accordance with the view point of Thornberry (2014), criminal traits are inborn. In accordance with his duty, it was found that more than 50% of the juvenile offenders has been subjected to the sever childhood trauma (Thornberry, 2014). In addition to this, many of these convicted were sexually and physically abused. In this aspect, study of Kendler shows that nurture and environment of the individual is major criminogenic factor. It is because; it has direct impact on the mindset of the children. According to the Kendler (2014), genetic factors are different for all the children and their personality traits are developed by the upbringing provided their family members (Kendler, 2014).

Parental effect: Family

From the moment of birth of child, legal guardian or parent act as role model in their lives. This aspect demonstrates that behavior and action of individual has huge impact on the characteristics of personality of child (Goff, et,al.,. 2014). By considering this aspect, study of Dufur (2015) shows that families that contain criminal record generally produce unlawful children. It is because of the issues of morality (Dufur and et.al. 2015). They learn from the attitude of their parents or guardians and further this learning is reflected in their actions. For example, if a child notices that their parents are getting into trouble with the police or legal system then their mind will also learn the same thing. In their youth, they will also not respect the justice system and will get engaged in immoral conducts (Widom and Wilson, 2015).

Influential approach can also be considered by the social learning theory explained by Bandura. In accordance with the provided theory, male children have desire to copy the action of their dominant father (Pardini, Waller and Hawes, 2015). By considering the data analysis of this study, it was concluded that boys are heavily influenced by male role models like their father. On the basis of their factors, it can be stated that if father is engaged in immoral activities (in past or present) then children will also be motivated for the same. It is because; they do not have to provide justification for their action as they learned such things from the family (Heckman, 2012).

Method of parenting also affect the development of child. For better understanding of this aspect two scenarios can be considered. First, if a family pays little attention to their children by providing them good freedom supported by minor circumstances (Forrest and Edwards, 2015). In this situation, children may make unjust use of this freedom and they get involved in the criminal behaviour. It is because; children are not able to differentiate between wrong and right (Widom and Wilson, 2015). In the starting stage they need good parental guidance and monitoring as if child is not accustomed to being restricted by the source of authority then it will be very difficult to control them in later youth (Lilly, Cullen and Ball, 2014). Contrary, in second scenario, if parents are incredibly strict with their children then they will rebel for freedom in adolescence they will get easily attracted towards the immoral values and that will resulted in their unlawful behaviour. Due to this aspect, parents are recommended to act a role model in the childhood of their children in order to provide them good upbringing (Ebbe and. Das, 2009).

In this aspect, last factor that makes child a criminal is marital status of their parents. Stereotypically, mainly juvenile offenders belongs to the broken homes (where there has been divorce of their parents) (Hallsten, Szulkin and Sarnecki, 2013). It is because; in such case child do not have permanent home and their life became unstable and more turbulent (Lilly, Cullen and Ball, 2014). For this aspect, case of James Bulger can be considered. In this case, both criminals John Venables and Robert Thompson belonged to family where their parents have been separated. However, in present society divorce is considered to be casual and as per the recent statistics 50% of the marriages end in divorce. By considering this aspect, separation of parents cannot be treated as prominent criminogenic factor but this factor has cumulative influence (Schroeder, 2014).

Siblings

Impact of sibling on criminal behavior of children can be considered mainly in two ways i.e. origins of social learning and aspect of ignorance and attention seeking. In accordance with the social learning theory, siblings are also role model of children (Cvetkovic and Olson, 2012). In accordance with the study of Ngo and Paternoster (2014), if elder siblings are involved into criminal activities then they will also encourage child either in direct or indirect manner (Ngo and Paternoster, 2014). In some situation, there is peer pressure on young siblings to contribute in possible criminal behavior. However, some criminologists had argued in this aspect that younger siblings learn from the mistake of other and it may have positive impact on their behaviour (Williams and et.al. 2014).

Another manner, through which sibling may influence is aspects of ignorance and attention seeking. In accordance with the study of Schroeder (2014), siblings have little individual attention from parents in families having large numbers of children. Due to this factor, generally they do not have much guidance in their early childhood and adolescence (Schroeder, 2014). This aspect attracts them to outsider world for the fulfilment of desire of attention. Study of Williams (2014) shows that, some children only get engaged in criminal conduct to capture the consideration of their parents. In this aspect David Jackson had stated that various children are jealous of their siblings and for the purpose of revenge or attention they are influenced from the criminal conduct (Williams and et.al. 2014).

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Impact of sexual and physical abuse

As per the study of Fagan (2013), all criminal actions are performed by individuals from the objective to attain justice or for the removal of justice. In various criminal cases, feeling of injustice has been originated from the aspect that how child is treated by family members and friends at their early stage (Fagan, 2013). Prediction made by James Gilligan in this aspect were accurate as violent behaviour is continued until the point at which trauma is fully addressed. However, not all children are turned out to be criminal in later age of their life who had suffered from the victimization and harassment in the childhood (Dufur and et.al. 2015). In addition to this, it is general phenomena that violence is an effective outlet of the unresolved trauma. Due to this aspect, suffering from sexual or physical abuse at home had become influential factor of the stimulation with criminal activities (Forrest and Edwards, 2015).

Case precedent of Jesse Pomeroy (in late 19th Century) in major example of abuse as criminogenic factor. Jesse was born in America in 1859. In his childhood, he suffered from abuse by his intoxicated father, elder brother and sometimes by his mother as well (Finkelhor and Hamby, 2013). In accordance with the social theory, when child is constantly hurt in this manner then they have obvious feeling for the revenge. He made desperate attempt for becoming victimizer instead of victim. In his teenage in turn out to be serial killer. He was severely cruel to the animals and in age of 15 he become serial killer. He was held guilty for two murders and for severe torture of eight victims (Ngo and Paternoster, 2014). In accordance with the viewpoint of his psychiatrists, his trauma of childhood abuse was the key causal factor of his awful actions. Get law essay help at discounted price!

Genetics: Nature

Study of Kero (2006) shows that hereditary genes are responsible for phenotype and genotype of human. Due to this aspect, these factor controls both behavioural and personality factors of the individual. Research report published by Kero demonstrates that smoking during pregnancy has direct correlation with the criminal record on later life of the child. It is because; these factors influences mental health and attitude of the children (Kero, 2006). In addition to this, they get addiction of smoke early in comparison to other individuals.

Some children have in-birth severe disorders such as Foetal Alcohol Syndrome or Severe Conduct Disorder (ADHD). In this disorder, children often starts to misbehave with other children and later they get engaged in drug consumption and domestic violence (Heckman, 2012). These children require intervention at early stage by the skilled therapist but they are actually treated with the blunt instrument and get excluded from the secondary school. As a consequence, they get more harsh towards themselves and society as well. Furthermore, in accordance with the report of Bradford Youth Offending Team and British Dyslexia Association (2004) children facing issue of dyslexia are more likely to engaged in criminal conduct as they are avoided or mistreated by the society (Thornberry, 2014).

Educational background and employment of family

It is a general phenomenon that family is first school of child. They learn in accordance with the provided environment by their family and closer outer community such as neighbours. If parents will be educated, then they will provide ethical and moral values to their children (Pardini, Waller and Hawes, 2015). In addition to this, from the beginning stage of their life they will understand their ethical responsibilities towards the society. Furthermore, they will learn to respect the judicial and social norms. On the contrary situation, if parents are not educated then their mentality will be affected by this aspect (Forrest and Edwards, 2015). As a consequence, they will not able to provide good guidance to their children and they will be more attracted towards the anti-social factors of the society (Goff, et,al.,. 2014). Further, poor supervision and monitoring allows children to get affected by the aspects of peer pressure. These factors are general noticed in the behavior of parent of individual who are anti-social.

As per the study of Kendler (2014), unemployment also enhances the juvenile participation in the crime. It is because; this aspect disrupts the process of parenting and consequently juveniles are more susceptible to derelict the peer influence. Due to poverty, sometimes parents take out frustration of their child which have severe adverse impact on their mind (Kendler, 2014).

Conclusion

In accordance with the present study, conclusion can be drawn that nurture and environment provide to the child in their early years has huge impact on their personality traits. Inappropriate environment and upbringing influences them to get engaged in criminal conduct in their youth. However, this factor is not sole reason for the criminal attitude of the individual. It is because outer environment also influences the behaviour of individual. Although it can be concluded that the nurture outweighs the nature of the child as criminogenic factor due to which they get engaged in criminal conduct in later age of their life. By considering this aspect, it can be said that appropriate assistance in early childhood is vital for the good upbringing of children.

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References

• Barnes, J.C. and et.al. 2014. Demonstrating the validity of twin research in criminology. Criminology. 52(4). pp.588-626.
• Cvetkovic, B. V. and Olson, C. D., 2012. Portrayals of Children in Popular Culture: Fleeting Images. Lexington Books.
• Dufur, M.J. and et.al. 2015. Examining the Effects of Family and School Social Capital on Delinquent Behavior. Deviant Behavior. 36(7). pp.511-526.
• Ebbe, O. I. and. Das, K. D., 2009. Criminal Abuse of Women and Children: An International Perspective. CRC Press.
• Fagan, F. P., 2013. The Real Root Causes of Violent Crime: The Breakdown of Marriage, Family, and Community. [Online]. Available through: <http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/1995/03/bg1026nbsp-the-real-root-causes-of-violent-crime>. [Accessed on 12th December 2015].
• Finkelhor, D. and Hamby, S. L. 2013. Violence, crime, and abuse exposure in a national sample of children and youth: an update. JAMA pediatrics. 167(7). 614-621.
• Forrest, W. and Edwards, B. 2015. Early onset of crime and delinquency among children. Annual statistical report. 131.

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