Application of Juvenile Delinquency Concepts
Introduction
The juvenile is a person who has not reached his or her eighteenth years of age and delinquency is the violation of law. Hence, the term “juvenile delinquency” refers to the violation of the law done by a minor that would be considered a crime if would have been done by an adult who have reached the age of eighteen or passed this age (Office of the United States of Attorney, n.d).
Summary of key aspects
The story of Barry Dale Loukaitis has been selected for examination. The key aspects of the story are that it shows the impact of wrong beliefs on the behaviors that encourage juvenile delinquency behavior. The story also disclosed that dysfunctional issues of families lead children towards the unlawful acts. The third aspect that is very important to mention, despite the issues of families and having wrong beliefs, violating and depressing songs and videos also contribute in encouraging the feelings of aggressiveness that lead children towards criminal activities (Calin, 2011).
Important factors to understand juvenile delinquency behavior
For understanding the juvenile delinquency behavior, it is pivotal to understand the factors that can cause the behavior. Analyzing risk factors is essential for predicting an enhanced probability of later crime. The risk factor that can cause to create juvenile delinquency behavior can be separated into three categories. The story of Barry Dale Loukaitis defines the most prominent factor that can cause to being the juvenile delinquency behavior can be “family related”. For example, in the story, it has been mentioned that the one reason amongst many behind the juvenile delinquency behavior of Barry Dale Loukaitis was the neglected behavior of parents or issues of family. Hence, broken home, abusive parents, negative behaviors, and separation from and of parents are the factors that cause to originate the juvenile delinquency behavior. Other factors can be related to schools such as poor performance in school and weak social ties. The third category is based on an individual domain such as exposure to TV violence, low IQ, and wrong beliefs can also be the factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency behavior (Shader, 2001).
Application of psychological theories of juvenile delinquency behavior
The psychological theories assume that the criminal behavior of boys or girls below the age of eighteenth is not driven by external factors only, but the psychic is also an important factor that contributes to juvenile delinquency behavior.
The psychodynamic and social learning theory
The psychodynamic theory assumes that the delinquency behaviors are a result of a psychological framework of a person not only the outcome of external factors. However, the social learning theory says that individuals learn the juvenile delinquency behavior through replicating and social interaction (Thompson & Morris, 2016). The story of Barry Dale Loukaitis clearly mentioned that he was influenced by the act of the student Barry saw in the video song of pearl jam “Jeremy”. It was disclosed that when he saw his classmates in a panic he said, “This surely beats algebra, doesn’t it?” this was the quote of the novel “Rage” written by Stephen King in which the central character hostage the algebra class and kills his two teachers.
Conclusion
Strategies towards preventing delinquency
Factors that cause to create juvenile delinquency behavior provide a base to deal with such behavior. Such behaviors can be prevented through improving IQ enhancing positive social interaction, and building supportive and warm relationships with adults and parents. Teachers should involve students in conventional activities and should make sure the commitment of students in school recognition (Shader, 2001).
References
Calin, M. (2011). Top 10 Young Killers. Retrieved on July 20, 2016, from http://listverse.com/2011/05/14/top-10-young-killers/
Office of the United States of Attorney. (n.d). 38. "Juvenile" Defined. U.S. Department Of Justice. Retrieved July 20, 2016, from https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-38-juvenile-defined
Shader, M. (2001). Risk Factors for Delinquency: An Overview. U.S Department of Justice. Retrieved July 20, 2016, from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/frd030127.pdf
Thompson, K. C., & Morris, R. J. (2016). Juvenile Delinquency and Disability. Switzerland: Springer
