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Abstract
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The past several decades have resulted in an explosion of knowledge about the development of young children, knowledge that is often underused in the policy-making process. This paper reviews established risk factors for later delinquency and violence that are present prior to school age. The results suggest that established population-based efforts in education and health should be expanded, in anticipation of reducing violent behavior. More intensive intervention efforts that provide a continuum of services for children and families during a vulnerable development period also are warranted. New research directions also are described.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this paper by Buka and Earls was to review the existing literature on early predictors of delinquency and violence, specifically those that are present prior to the age of entering school. The literature focused on the individual child and family; developmental settings such as the neighborhood, and the community were not included.
METHODOLOGY:
A non-experimental review of the literature was employed.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The authors noted that the most general behavior of delinquency and violence was characterized by defiance and destructiveness; this behavior has been commonly termed antisocial. The other predictors pertaining to the child's characteristics were low IQ, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disability (especially reading disability), poor motor-skill development, prenatal and perinatal complications, minor physical anomalies, and head injury. The predictors pertaining to the characteristics of the family were parenting practices, specifically lack of parental supervision, parental rejection, lack of parental involvement, and poor parental disciplinary practices, family criminal behavior, child abuse/neglect, poor marital relations, parental absence due to divorce or separation, and large family size. The authors noted that based on the literature parenting skills were better predictors of delinquency than were individual skills or characteristics. It was also noted that a causal relationship between the above listed parenting practices and delinquency had not yet been demonstrated. Further, the authors noted that while most of these risk factors were studied one at a time, they are likely to interact and the combination of certain factors have greater effects on delinquency than individually.
The authors also included other plausible conditions that have not been established as risk factors scientifically. They include exposure to toxic substances (including lead), particular aspects of cognitive development (such as language ability or memory) that might account for school failure, temperamental qualities, exposure to violence in the community and in the media, self-efficacy and moral development, and settings that promote violent behavior. Finally, the authors note that the conditions have been found to be influenced by gender and socialization practices and that they vary by culture and class.
The authors also included three policy implications. First, that early risk factors for later criminal behavior and violence have been established. Second, the established predictors indicated links in a developmental sequence, rather than single causes, leading to violence and delinquency. Third, the magnitude of risk resulting from each factor should be estimated.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors suggested that given the predictive conditions the public health model could not only prevent such conditions, but could also provide long-term societal benefits in the form of reduced rates of delinquency and violence.
They also suggested that studies pertaining to delinquency and violence should be done longitudinally so that "pathways, not portraits" (p.57) of the phenomenon could be better established.
Lastly, the authors recommended that more scientific research should be done on the social settings of the youth because its understanding is critical in anticipating and preventing delinquency and violence.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Juvenile Violence
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Delinquency
Delinquency Risk Factors
Delinquency Causes
Violence Causes
Violence Risk Factors
Delinquency Predictors
Violence Predictors
Early Childhood
Child Development
Youth Development
Parent Child Relations
Parenting Skills
Family Risk Factors
Family Relations
Individual Risk Factors
Child Behavior
Child Problem Behavior
Child Antisocial Behavior
Behavior Effects
Child Aggression
Aggression Effects
Language: en |