Family Conflict Sources & Influence on Delinquency
Week #0. Day #1 — Videoscript
The structure of the American family has changed significantly over the last 50 years. This lesson will discuss the changing American family, identify sources of conflict within the family, and show how this conflict can impact juvenile delinquency [подростковая преступность].
Trevor's Story
Trevor is a defiant 16-year-old teen who has a volatile temper. He lives in an apartment with his single mom and doesn't have any consistent male role models to help guide him. Trevor's mom is petite and doesn't know how to handle Trevor's anger when he flies into rages even about the most minor things, so instead of correcting him or offering him guidance, she often retreats, fearing her words will make matters worse.
Last week Trevor's school called his mom to inform her that Trevor was caught stealing illegal prescription drugs on school grounds. He was suspended from school and referred to a substance abuse treatment program. He will also face delinquency charges in juvenile court as well as a result of the incident. Trevor's mom is at her wit's end and doesn't know where to turn for help.
The Changing American Family
The face of the American family has changed dramatically. In the 1960s, for example, the norm was for women to stay at home and take care of household duties and children. Two-parent families were the standard, and single parents were frowned upon. This model had its benefits and disadvantages, but that's for another lesson.
Approximately 32 million adults were single in 1960, compared to 105 million in 2013. The majority of women in the 1960s lacked a college education, married by the time they were 30, and did not have access to oral contraceptives.
Fast forward to the American family today. Less than 50% of children are being raised in a traditional family. More children live in single family households or blended families than traditional two-parent families. Additionally, close to 75% of women work outside of the home, and many of them are in professional careers that require a college education. Women are delaying marriage into their 30s and having children much later in life. The ''traditional family'' is a thing of the past.
Family Stress & Conflict
The dramatic changes in the structure of the American family have resulted in some identifiable stressors and conflicts related to money, time, routine, childcare, and parental dating. Specifically, these include:
• Financial strains where single-parent households often struggle to make ends meet;
• Lack of time caused by increasing job-related and family obligations;
• Lack of consistency and routine, which occurs when children go back and forth between two households that may have different sets of rules;
• Lack of access to reliable childcare, a critical factor when both parents are employed
• Parental dating after a divorce, whereby children may not always care for the new partners, creating the potential for conflict.
Effect on Delinquency
So, can family stress and conflict contribute to delinquency? The answer is a resounding yes. When families experience challenging and difficult times, family conflict can contribute to delinquency. This appears to be especially true when family conflict is experienced during childhood.
A literature review on the link between parenting and delinquency concluded that family structure and parenting style have a definite impact on juvenile delinquency for a number of reasons. These reasons include the impact of stressors and conflict discussed earlier in this lesson. Let's take a look at how they might contribute to delinquency:
• Financial strains: Due to a lack of funds, parents can't always provide for their children's every need and want. In turn, juveniles might see theft as a viable alternative to satisfy their needs and wants.
• Lack of time: Parental absence can lead to a lack of supervision, which is crucial during the teen years.
• Lack of consistency and routine: All children should have a reasonable idea of what their lives will be like on a daily basis, and thrive on routine. Chaos and unpredictability can promote juvenile delinquency.
• Lack of access to reliable childcare may force parents to utilize unreliable alternatives where children lack proper care and supervision, or worse yet, no care at all.
• Parental dating: When parents become romantically involved after divorce, initially their children may not be their primary focus. This can lead to lapses in discipline and stir up arguments that encourage teens to stay away from home.
In order to prevent teens from becoming delinquent, it's important for parents to manage their conflicts and stressors in order to keep their children out of trouble.
Lesson Summary
The American family as we know it has undergone dramatic change over the past 50 plus years. In the 1960s, the majority of families were two-parent families, and mothers typically stayed home. Today, the majority of families are one-parent or blended families, and most mothers work outside of the home. As a result of these changes, American families are faced with a multitude of stressors and conflicts, including:
• Financial strains
• Lack of time
• Lack of consistency and routine
• Lack of access to reliable child care
• Parental dating
These stressors can contribute to juvenile delinquency. Parents who don't have enough time, for example, or need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, may not be able to provide sufficient supervision to ensure their teens stay out of trouble. In order to keep teens safe and prevent delinquency, parents should focus on managing conflicts and stressors constructively.