A Glimpse Into the Lives of Nine Youths in a Correctional Facility: Insight Into Theories of Delinquency

Abstract

Theories explaining delinquency have been examined primarily using quantitative methods. The current study used interviews to gain insight into the lives of delinquent male adolescents. Results indicate that no single theory best explains delinquency, but a combination of theories provides comprehensive representation.Many theories, such as social control theory, social learning theory, and stress theory, provide an explanation for delinquency and substance abuse in adolescents. Each of these theories adopts a slightly different perspective on the causes of criminal behavior by highlighting specific characteristics that could either prevent or lead to delinquency. A considerable body of research and literature has identified various factors and tested some of these theories (e.g., Bellair, Roscigno, & McNulty, 2003;Zimmermann, 2006); however, the majority, if not all, of these empirical studies have been quantitative. That is, each has been conducted with a priori hypotheses that have directed the study's design and measures. Whereas these studies have produced important results that increase the understanding of delinquent behavior, the voices of delinquent youths have not been heard.These voices can provide a bird's-eye view of youths' experiences, including their home lives, their peers, and how they cope with various situationsproviding personal insight into possible causes of or prevention of engagement in delinquent behavior. The qualitative approach implemented in this study was used with the intention of providing information that may help counselors better understand adolescent delinquent behavior. Qualitative methods provide an effective way to explore the subjective meanings these youths make of their life experiences, and any commonalities among their lives may lead to a better understanding of their current delinquent behavior (Banyard & Miller, 1998). The purposes of this study were to (a) better understand the life situations of juvenile delinquents, (b) determine which theory or theories of delinquent behavior might best provide enlightenment into unruly and offending behaviors (including substance use and abuse), and (c) provide counselors with effective interventions and helping suggestions.

Career Counseling With Juvenile Offenders: Effects on Self-Efficacy and Career Maturity

“…Juvenile delinquency affects far more than the offender (Ryals, ). This study supported prior research suggesting that counseling can help juvenile offenders eliminate their “delinquent” label (Wester, MacDonald, & Lewis, ).…”

Keluarga, kontrol sosial, dan “strain” : model delinquency remaja

“…Asumsi teori ini adalah koneksi sosial antara anak dengan keluarga, teman, sekolah dan lingkungan sosial lain. Pada lingkungan sosial yang mikro tersebut menurut Ngai & Cheung (2005); Wester, MacDonald, & Lewis (2008) menyebutkan sebagai lingkungan eksternal dari anak dan diberlakukan aturan-aturan, values dan belief yang bersifat konvensional.…”

“…Hircshi s social control/bonding theory (Booth, Farrell, & Varano, 2008;Wester, MacDonald, & Lewis, 2008;Ingram, Patchin, McCluskey, & Bynum, 2007;Mason & Windle, 2002) menyebutkan empat elemen social bond, yakni 1. Attachment atau kelekatan.…”

“…Secara spesifik, social control theory menekankan adanya supervisi dan perilaku moral dapat diberikan oleh orang tua sehingga dapat mengurangi angka kenakalan. Studi yang dilakukan oleh Farrington, Loeber, Yin, and Anderson (dalam Wester, MacDonald, & Lewis, 2008) pada 500 remaja melaporkan bahwa penyebab delinquency adalah rendahya supervisi orang tua, rendahnya apresiasi yang diberikan orang tua sebagai bentuk reinforcement, dan rendahnya keterlibatan dalam aktivitas kebersamaan. Booth, Farrell, & Varano (2008) memakai konsep dari social control theory untuk memprediksi delinquency yang serius dan yang beresiko delinquency.…”

Swedish Adolescent Female Offenders with Limited Delinquency: Exploring Family-Related Narratives from a Developmental Perspective

“…Whereas numerous cross-sectional studies (e.g., Hoeve et al, 2009;Pardini et al, 2015) have documented different risk factors related to female delinquency, only a small number of studies have investigated young offenders' own perspective on their interpersonal relationships. However, most of these studies include only a small number or no females at all (e.g., Sander, Sharkey, Olivarri, Tanigawa, & Mauseth, 2010;Wester, MacDonald, & Lewis, 2008). Those who do include young female offenders have mostly focused on victimization and its potential connection to the young female's delinquent behaviour and/or sampled incarcerated adolescents (e.g., Gaarder & Belknap, 2004;Herrman & Silverstein, 2012).…”