In comparison to the 1980’s, juvenile delinquency has been on the rise throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s. Personality traits and psychological theories explain delinquent behaviour among the juveniles. Psychological issues such as mental illnesses, dysfunctional homes, and influential songs and videos could have triggered events that led Bale Dale Loukaitis to hold algebra students hostage at the Front Middle School. The Psychiatry and psychoanalytical approach together with general personality trait theories would help understand the underlying factors to Loukaitis’ violent behaviour. To counter delinquency psychodynamic – psychoanalytical theories and personality theories can help identify common delinquents’ characteristic tendencies and provide guiding frameworks for interventions to deter the vice (Moore, 2011).
Barry Dale Loukaitis’ case highlights the prominence of delinquency in the United States. This was a 1996 Front Middle School hostage and shooting spree encounter involving the algebra class. The crime is committed by a fourteen year old on fellow young individuals. Social disorganization in form of a broken home, psychopathy and psychodynamic issues stand out in this particular case (Moore, 2015).
The juvenile delinquent behaviour in regard to Loukaitis’ case can be understood to originate from several factors. Loukaitis’ history of serious mental illness or psychopathy manifested in delusional and messianic thoughts highlight theorists view as directly though not singularly linked to juvenile crime. Psychopathy is a socially destabilizing personality disorder of interpersonal and behavioural characteristics. This can result into a violation of others individual rights and the law.
Dysfunctional issues in the family or a broken home positively relates with Loukaitis’ violent behaviour at the Front Middle School. This is a major cause of crime among young offenders. In cases where homes are disrupted in the early upbringing of the individuals, there is a negative psychological imprint left on the mind of the child. For example a great percentage of delinquents come from homes where either a father or mother is lost or with separated or divorced parents. Such situations leave children without models to look up to for discipline and affection and the resultant laxity or harshness may cause the child to develop unacceptable habits leading to violent behaviour (Bridges, 1927).
The over stimulating song and video of “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam could have negatively influenced Loukaitis to imitate the scenes likewise thus going forward to hold students hostage, killing and injuring some. This video casts a de- arranged young individual committing suicide in the presence of his classmates and teacher. Movies are very potential factors in determination of violent crime among juvenile. Children, with immature minds are unable to distinguish between lawful and unlawful, moral and immoral acts of what lays in front of them which can lead them to unconsciously commit social offenses (Bridges, 1927).
General personality traits can inhabit delinquency. Generally theorists attempt to put together personality traits for example temperament that may lead to violent behaviour. Personality traits are persisting tendencies for individuals to act in certain ways in particular situations. These traits are interlinked with the psychology of the individual who can generally be labelled either a psycho or sociopath which when reinforced connects with delinquency among young people. In this case Loukaitis may have developed behavioural characteristics of psychopaths such as irresponsibility, impulsivity and risk taking leading him to hold students hostage and killing some (Reid, 2011).
Psychodynamic- psychoanalytical theories and personality trait theories can be utilized to prevent delinquency on manifestation. These theories identify and monitor tendencies of common characteristics amongst delinquents. Therefore this can help in the division of frameworks to guide interventions to deter an individual from exhibiting violent behaviour. However it is challenging to test hypotheses and accounting for variable human behaviours (Moore, 2011)
No singular factor can be pointed out to cause delinquency. However a combination of elements like mental illness, emotional instability in the form delusions and messianic thoughts, a dysfunctional home and an influencing song and video could have led Loukaitis to hold the algebra class hostage thus killing and injuring some students. The psychiatric and psychoanalytical approaches or concepts focus on the underlying personality traits of the individual and how psychodynamics- psychoanalytic approaches can be used to comprehend the common characteristic tendencies of delinquents to provide frameworks for guiding intervention.
References
Bridges, B. M. K (1927). Factors contributing to juvenile delinquency. Journal of criminal law and criminology, vol 17, issue 4
Moore, M. (2011). Psychological influences of crime and delinquency. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21:226-239, doi:10.1080/10911359.2011.564552
Reid. A. J. (2011). Crime and personality. Personality theory and criminality examined. Article retrieved from the web. www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/377/crime-and-personality- personality-theory-and-criminality-examined
Shoemaker, D. J. (2005). Theories of delinquency. New York, Oxford University Press
