Male and Female Juveniles Engagement in Delinquency
Statistically, males engage in more criminal behavior compared to their female counterparts. Several factors have been postulated in a bid to understand the reasons behind the disparities in delinquent behavior. It also remains significant to note that although the crime rates of males have traditionally been high, the number of female delinquents has also significantly risen. On a general perspective, male and female juvenile offenders have similar characteristics including mental health problems, less education, high aggression, and higher rates of poverty and abuse compared to other juveniles with no criminal behavior (Siegel & Welsh, 2014). Female delinquency has become a significant concern especially with the recent increase in the number of offenders. The biological perspective has sought to explain the biological inconsistencies determining the differing rates of criminal behavior among the juveniles. For instance, the physical nature of males makes them more prone to aggression in comparison to the females. Secondly, the brain structure also plays a significant role as a critical biological factor.
Females typically have a large brain part responsible for emotional and verbal regulation. As such, this explains why they have high efficiency in managing their feelings and vocalizing their thoughts in comparison to men. Siegel and Welsh (2014) asserted that a lack of emotional control in males predisposes them to delinquent behavior. The psychological explanation delves into matters relating to the differences in the male and female psyches that determine delinquency. Females are more prone to internalizing mental disorders that exist in the form of anxiety and depression. On the other hand, males depict externalizing mental disorders such as conduct disorders. According to research, externalizing mental disorders increase the probability of engaging in juvenile delinquency thus increasing the likelihood that males will engage in delinquent behavior. The socialization perspective attempts to explain that crime rates are lower in females primarily due to the way the society visualizes them. Conventionally, females are expected to be less confrontational, aggressive, impulsive, and irrational. However, on the other hand, juvenile delinquency in males has been normalized for a long time thus increasing their chances of engaging in such behavior.
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Factors That Increase the Likelihood of Juvenile Deviance
Several factors can be associated with an increased risk of deviant behavior in society. First, domestic violence is arguably one of the most documented factors that increase the risk of deviant behavior among the juveniles. It remains fundamental to appreciate that domestic violence has an element of intergenerational transmission to the children. After observing the violent and abusive behaviors perpetrated by the parents, they view aggression as a normal strategy that could be used to solve violence. Secondly, socioeconomic factors are critical in the development of a child that respects and observes the social norms. Delinquency and other deviant behaviors are common in poor neighborhoods compared to the wealthy ones (Clinard & Meier, 2015). Children from poor socioeconomic backgrounds can decide to engage in criminal activities as a way of fending for their needs.
Secondly, juveniles can engage in deviant behavior as a way of protesting their missed or inadequate opportunities. The weak social structure and a lack of rules common in such neighborhoods also mean that they lack a stable authoritative figure to enforce the social norms and codes among the children. Thirdly, drug and substance abuse is a significant factor that leads to deviant activity. Substance abuse causes deviance in two primary ways. The overdependence on drugs results in addiction thus implicating mental health leading to unacceptable social behaviors among the abusers (Clinard & Meier, 2015). Secondly, the drug users will need to engage in criminal and other dubious activities to ensure that they find the necessary funds to purchase their drugs.
References
Clinard, M. B., & Meier, R. F. (2015). Sociology of deviant behavior. Nelson Education.
Siegel, L. J., & Welsh, B. C. (2014). Juvenile delinquency: Theory, practice, and law. Cengage Learning.
