Assignment on Social Deviance

INTRODUCTION

As per the explanation of Webster’s online dictionary, Violence is an “intense, turbulent or furious and often destructive action or exertion of (physical) force so as to injure or abuse.” Deviance has been defined as sociological civilization and explains performances or actions that breach cultural rules adding and then it also formally doesn’t pay attention to rules such as crime as well as unofficial violations of social norms. Many scholars from the field of Sociology have their view to study how these types of norms are shaped, how they change and compulsory over time.

It will not be totally wrong to say that youth violence is increasing consistently in our society. It is the perception of our society that Violence is slowly increasing in our youth. It is a perception because some agree about the increase in violence and some do not. There is no proper evidence of youth violence and because of this reason. Another important aspect regarding disagreement about increase in youth violence is the point of interpretation. Youth violence is subject to interpretation and it is physically almost impossible to measure youth violence.

Discipline is defined as a mental and moral training, obedience to rules, correction and/or chastisement (Hoffman, 1994).  Statistics show that juvenile crime has risen at an alarming rate.  Since 1970, the juvenile population in Florida has only risen 45% according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Statistical Analysis Center (SAC Notes, 1995). 

 

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Dobson (1992) quotes Dr.  Louis Sullivan, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human  Services during the Bush Administration as saying, “during  every 100 hours in the streets of America, more young men die than during the first 100 hours of the ground war in the Persian Gulf.”

A writer revealed that discipline is necessary to ensure that children become comfortable in expressing themselves, learning to handle anger, and developing self-confidence.  Discipline brings out the best and worst in parents.  It forces the parent to act like the adult they want the child to become.  Discipline is about having the right relationship with a child (Sears, 1995). 

Lack of discipline demonstrates a lack of sensitivity toward oneself and others. Sears (1995) has identified three approaches to discipline: Authoritarian, a Communication approach, and Behavior Modification.

Although, it is also true that sex and violence have always been a part of humankind.  There is also a strong connection between sex and violence and one of the prominent writers has discussed this over 100 years ago. It is an argument which can agreed or disagreed by many people that criminal acts including schoolyard violence which is also the part of growing up children, these kind of risk-taking, and non-acceptance of conventional values are a part of normal development.

It is also important to note that problems in family have led to trouble with today’s youth. It is also being observed that most of the youth today are filled with depression and misery.

There are many studies in record that have been done on the family.   Cantelon (1990) states that according to John J.  Wilson, a “healthy childhood” is crucial for a child to become a well-adapted and productive member of society.  This article is trying to explore that the too many children today are growing up deprived, without fear, and these children are left in the hands of child-care workers, or stay at home alone.  Some of the children are growing by parents who misuse alcohol or drugs. These children are also engaged in the activities like crime, or abuse and neglect them.  These are the behaviors of those children who have no role model and no limits.  It can be concluded that parents who are not able to provide sufficient supervision at home, are more probable to grow anti-social children.

Cantelon (1990) states lacking proper role models, children develop their own norms based on their desires.  In the wake of another juvenile being indicted for murder, Executive Director of the Florida Center for Children and Youth Levine (1995) feels that Florida needs to “get honest” and focus on prevention and education programs.  Florida’s ranking as 47th out of 50 states in term delinquency treatment programs for children, makes Florida one of the worst states for children to live according to (Levine, 1995).  He further states that “unless we develop the political will to provide quality care right from the start, Florida will continue to pay its debts in child abuse, school failure, and crime.” Jim Booker, Coordinator for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, also feels that prevention programs are critical to reducing the number of kids involved in crime (Levine, 1995).

Some writers cite the following factors common to those kids involved in crime:

  • 92% have only one parent
  • 75% have a parent or sibling with a criminal record
  • 85% are substance abusers
  • 70% are from disadvantaged neighborhoods (Levine & Booker,1995).

A writer stated that due to the “lack of parental discipline”, society has responded in the form of “boot camps.” These camps target non-violent offenders in the hopes of rehabilitating the offender, and reducing recidivism (McKenzie, 1993). Two writers cite in their study of delinquency, that discipline practices had a profound effect on the children in the study that became delinquent (Glueck & Glueck, 1962). 

After studying the whole concept and its relation with entity of youth, it is clear that there are some limits and characteristics of deviance in youth. Deviance has also been clearly defined by many prominent writers. Symptoms of deviance have been defined so we need to kill the symptoms of deviance in our youth then the society can be prosperous all over the world.

 

WORK CITED

Cantelon, S. L.,1990. Family strengthening for high risk youth. Washington, D.C.

 

Dobson, J.,1992. The new dare to discipline. Wheaton, IL: Tyndal House Publishing.

 

Glueck, S. & Glueck, E.,1962. Family environment and delinquency. Boston: Houghton-

Miffin Company.

 

Hoffman, M. L., 1994. Discipline and internalization. Journal Articles Developmental

Psychology. New York: Journal.

 

Levine, J. & Booker, J.,1995. Florida’s youth headed for trouble: Crime rages as state ranks 47th for treatment of its children. Melbourne, FL: Florida Today.

 

McKenzie, D.,1993. Boot Camps. The National Institute of Justice.

 

Sears, W. & Sears, M., 1995. The discipline book. Boston, MA: Little Brown & Company.

 

Statistical Analysis Center.,1995. Juvenile crime in Florida (SAC notes).Tallahassee: Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

 

Merium Websters, 2011.   [online] (Updated 16 Jan 2011) Available at:< http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violence> [Accessed 20 August 2011].