youth and delinquency test 3

key terms.

Family Socialization

Definition: The process by which families teach children values, norms, and behaviors.

Example: Parents teaching a child to respect rules reduces chances of delinquency.

Nuclear Family

Definition: A traditional family structure with two parents and their children.

Example: A child living with both biological parents in one household.

Fragile Families

Definition: Families experiencing instability due to poverty, single parenting, or lack of resources.

Example: A single mother working multiple jobs with little supervision over her child.

Family Breakup

Definition: The separation of parents through divorce or separation.

Example: A child acting out after their parents divorce.

Broken Home

Definition: A family disrupted by separation, divorce, or absence of a parent.

Example: A teen engaging in delinquency after growing up without one parent.

Blended Family

Definition: A family formed when parents remarry and combine children from previous relationships.

Example: A child struggling to adjust to a stepparent and new siblings.

Family Conflict

Definition: Ongoing tension, arguments, or hostility within a family.

Example: Constant fighting between parents increasing a child’s aggression.

Intrafamily Violence

Definition: Physical or emotional violence occurring within the family.

Example: A parent physically abusing a child.

Indirect Family Violence

Definition: Exposure to violence between family members without being directly abused.

Example: A child witnessing domestic violence between parents.

Family Competence

Definition: The ability of a family to function effectively and provide support.

Example: Parents who communicate well and support their child’s needs.

Parental Efficacy

Definition: A parent’s confidence in their ability to raise and discipline their child.

Example: A parent who consistently enforces rules and believes in their parenting skills.

Family Social Capital

Definition: The support, trust, and relationships within a family that benefit children.

Example: Parents being involved in school and knowing their child’s friends.

Inconsistent Discipline

Definition: Unpredictable or uneven enforcement of rules.

Example: A parent punishing a child one day for behavior but ignoring it the next.

Harsh Discipline

Definition: Severe or excessive punishment.

Example: Yelling or physically punishing a child for small mistakes.

Inconsistent Supervision

Definition: Failure to consistently monitor a child’s activities.

Example: Parents not knowing where their child is at night.

Resource Dilution

Definition: When parental attention and resources are spread thin across many children.

Example: In a large family, children receive less individual attention.

Parental Deviance

Definition: When parents engage in criminal or antisocial behavior.

Example: A parent involved in drug use influencing their child’s behavior.

Delinquent Siblings

Definition: Brothers or sisters who engage in delinquent behavior and influence each other.

Example: A younger sibling copying an older sibling’s criminal actions.

Intergenerational Transmission of Crime

Definition: The passing of criminal behavior from parents to children.

Example: A child raised in a criminal household becoming delinquent.

Battered Child Syndrome

Definition: A medical condition indicating repeated physical abuse of a child.

Example: A child showing multiple unexplained injuries over time.

Physical Abuse

Definition: Intentional physical harm to a child.

Example: Hitting or burning a child.

Emotional Abuse

Definition: Verbal or psychological harm that damages a child’s self-worth.

Example: Constantly insulting or degrading a child.

Physical Neglect

Definition: Failure to provide basic needs like food, shelter, or clothing.

Example: Not feeding a child properly.

Emotional Neglect

Definition: Failure to provide emotional support or attention.

Example: Ignoring a child’s need for affection.

Sexual Abuse

Definition: Any sexual activity involving a child.

Example: An adult exploiting a child sexually.

Cycle of Abuse

Definition: The tendency for abused children to become abusers later in life.

Example: A victim of abuse growing up to abuse their own children.

Mandatory Reporters

Definition: Professionals required by law to report suspected child abuse.

Example: Teachers reporting signs of abuse.

Intake Worker

Definition: A person who receives and evaluates abuse reports.

Example: A caseworker deciding whether to investigate a claim.

Advisement Hearing

Definition: A court hearing where parents are informed of abuse allegations.

Example: Parents being told their rights after a report is filed.

Reunification

Definition: Returning a child to their family after intervention.

Example: A child going back home after parents complete treatment.

Foster Care

Definition: Temporary placement of children in state-approved homes.

Example: A child removed from an abusive home placed with foster parents.

Termination of Parental Rights

Definition: Legal removal of a parent’s rights to their child.

Example: A parent losing custody permanently due to abuse.

Dyads

Definition: Close relationships between two individuals.

Example: Best friends influencing each other’s behavior.

Cliques

Definition: Small, tight-knit peer groups.

Example: A group of friends who always spend time together.

Crowds

Definition: Larger groups with shared identity but less interaction.

Example: “Jocks” or “popular kids” at school.

Socialization

Definition: The process of learning behaviors and norms from others.

Example: Teens adopting behaviors from their friend group.

Co-Offending

Definition: Committing crimes with peers.

Example: Two teens shoplifting together.

Deviancy Training

Definition: Reinforcement of deviant behavior through peer interaction.

Example: Friends encouraging each other to break rules.

Unstructured Socializing

Definition: Hanging out without supervision or specific goals.

Example: Teens loitering late at night without adults present.

Peer Pressure

Definition: Influence from peers to conform to group behavior.

Example: A teen drinking to fit in with friends.

“Birds of a Feather”

Definition: The idea that similar individuals associate with each other.

Example: Delinquent teens forming friend groups together.

Romantic Influence on Delinquency

Definition: Romantic partners can increase or decrease delinquent behavior.

Example: A partner encouraging risky behavior.

Gang

Definition: A group of youths involved in delinquent or criminal activity.

Example: A group engaging in drug dealing and violence.

Interstitial Group

Definition: A group formed in gaps of society where institutions fail.

Example: Youth forming gangs in disorganized neighborhoods.

Gang Identity

Definition: Shared symbols, names, or behaviors that define a gang.

Example: Wearing specific colors or using hand signs.

Territoriality

Definition: Control over a specific area by a gang.

Example: Marking territory with graffiti.

Klikas

Definition: Smaller subgroups within a gang.

Example: A subset of members operating within a larger gang.

Gang Cohesion

Definition: The strength of bonds between gang members.

Example: Highly loyal members who commit crimes together.

Transitional Neighborhoods

Definition: Areas with high mobility and instability.

Example: Communities with frequent population changes and crime.

Collective Efficacy

Definition: A community’s ability to maintain order and control behavior.

Example: Neighborhoods where residents actively prevent crime.

Gang Migration

Definition: Movement of gang members to new areas.

Example: Members relocating to expand drug markets.

Globalization of Gangs

Definition: Spread of gang activity across countries.

Example: International gangs like MS-13.

Selection Hypothesis

Definition: Delinquent individuals choose to join gangs.

Example: Already troubled youth joining gangs.

Facilitation Hypothesis

Definition: Gangs encourage members to commit more crime.

Example: A teen committing more crimes after joining a gang.

Enhancement Hypothesis

Definition: Gang membership increases the seriousness of existing delinquency.

Example: Minor offenders becoming violent after joining a gang.

Anomie/Alienation Theory

Definition: Youth join gangs due to social disconnection and lack of opportunities.

Example: Teens in poverty turning to gangs for belonging.

Social Learning/Family Tradition

Definition: Gang involvement learned from family members.

Example: A child joining the same gang as their parent.

Rational Choice Theory (Gangs)

Definition: Youth join gangs for benefits like protection or money.

Example: Joining for safety in a dangerous neighborhood.

Gang Injunctions

Definition: Legal restrictions placed on gang members.

Example: Prohibiting known members from gathering in public.

Gang Sweeps

Definition: Large-scale police operations targeting gangs.

Example: Arresting multiple gang members at once.

Detached Street Workers

Definition: Outreach workers who connect with gang youth.

Example: Mentors helping teens leave gangs.

Spergel Model

Definition: A comprehensive gang prevention and intervention strategy.

Example: Combining community programs, policing, and outreach.

Gender Differences in Delinquency

Definition: Differences in the types, frequency, and causes of delinquent behavior between males and females.

Example: Boys commit more violent crimes, but girls are increasingly involved in similar offenses like theft or assault.

Gender Gap in Crime

Definition: The statistical difference between male and female offending rates, historically higher for males but narrowing over time.

Example: Arrest ratio used to be 3:1 (male:female), now closer to 2:1.

Two Cultures View

Definition: The idea that boys and girls grow up in separate social worlds with different expectations and behaviors.

Example: Boys are encouraged to be independent and aggressive, while girls are encouraged to be relational and emotional.

Socialization Differences

Definition: The process by which boys and girls are raised differently, shaping behavior and attitudes.

Example: Boys being allowed more freedom while girls are monitored more closely.

Relational Aggression

Definition: Indirect aggression aimed at harming relationships rather than physical harm.

Example: Spreading rumors or excluding someone socially.

Physical Aggression

Definition: Direct, physical acts of violence or harm.

Example: Fighting or hitting someone.

Cognitive Differences

Definition: Differences in mental abilities between genders, often influenced by culture.

Example: Girls tend to perform better in language tasks, boys in spatial reasoning.

Personality Differences

Definition: Variations in traits such as self-esteem, empathy, and self-concept between genders.

Example: Girls often report lower self-esteem and higher empathy.

Emotional Differences

Definition: Differences in how males and females experience and express emotions.

Example: Girls internalize emotions (sadness), boys externalize (anger).

Gender-Schema Theory

Definition: The idea that society teaches individuals what behaviors are appropriate for each gender.

Example: A girl avoids aggression because she believes it’s “not feminine.”

Gender Similarities Hypothesis

Definition: The theory that males and females are more alike than different in most psychological traits.

Example: Both boys and girls can show aggression or empathy depending on context.

Gender Patterns in Crime

Definition: Trends in how males and females differ in crime type, victims, and methods.

Example: Boys more likely to use guns; girls more likely to use knives.

Police Gender Bias / Changing Enforcement

Definition: The idea that increases in female delinquency may reflect stricter enforcement rather than actual behavior change.

Example: Police no longer giving girls “leniency” for minor offenses.

Female Gang Involvement

Definition: Participation of girls in gang-related activities and violence.

Example: Girls joining gangs for protection or social belonging.

Gender Bias in Juvenile Justice

Definition: Differences in how boys and girls are treated in the system.

Example: Girls being punished more harshly for sexual-related offenses.

Status Offenders

Definition: Youth charged for behaviors only illegal due to age.

Example: Running away from home.

Re-victimization

Definition: When victims are punished or harmed again by the system.

Example: An abused girl being detained for running away.

Liberal Feminism

Definition: Argues women commit less crime due to fewer opportunities, but rates rise as equality increases.

Example: Women committing more white-collar crimes as they enter the workforce.

Rita James Simon Theory

Definition: Female crime increases as women’s social roles expand.

Example: More women committing financial crimes due to workplace access.

Critical Feminism

Definition: Focuses on power inequality and exploitation of women as causes of crime.

Example: A girl committing crimes after being exploited or abused.

Patriarchy

Definition: A system where men hold more power than women.

Example: Women’s work being undervalued compared to men’s.

Gender Conflict

Definition: Struggles arising from expectations of masculinity and femininity.

Example: A girl acting aggressively to resist gender norms.

Power-Control Theory

Definition: Suggests family structure and power dynamics influence delinquency.

Example: Girls in strict households commit less delinquency than boys.

Life-Course Theory

Definition: Examines how offending behavior changes over time.

Example: A teen committing crimes but stopping in adulthood.

High-Rate Offenders

Definition: Individuals who frequently engage in delinquency.

Example: A teen repeatedly arrested for multiple crimes.

Desisters

Definition: Individuals who stop offending over time.

Example: A former delinquent who becomes law-abiding.

Late Bloomers

Definition: Individuals who begin offending later than typical.

Example: Someone who starts committing crimes in late teens.

Socialization Theory

Definition: The idea that delinquency results from poor or improper social development.

Example: Lack of parental guidance leading to deviant behavior.

Broken Home / Family Disruption

Definition: Family instability linked to higher delinquency risk.

Example: Divorce or neglect leading to emotional instability.

Abuse and Trauma

Definition: Exposure to physical or sexual abuse increasing delinquency risk.

Example: A girl running away and committing crimes after abuse.

Delinquent Associations

Definition: Influence of peers on criminal behavior.

Example: Joining a group that encourages theft.

Trait Theory (General)

Definition: The idea that delinquency is influenced by biological or psychological traits.

Example: Hormonal imbalances affecting behavior.

Lombroso’s Theory

Definition: Early biological theory claiming criminals are biologically different (now outdated).

Example: Claiming female criminals were more “masculine.”

Masculinity Hypothesis

Definition: The belief that female offenders have more masculine traits.

Example: A girl engaging in aggressive crime is labeled “acting like a man.”

Chivalry Hypothesis

Definition: The idea that the justice system treats females more leniently.

Example: A girl receiving a lighter sentence than a boy for the same crime.

Penis Envy (Freudian Theory)

Definition: The claim that female delinquency stems from feelings of inferiority (outdated).

Example: A girl acting out due to internal psychological conflict.

Early Puberty / Precocious Sexuality

Definition: Early physical development linked to increased risk of delinquency.

Example: Early-maturing girls associating with older, delinquent peers.

Hormonal Effects

Definition: Biological influences (like PMS or hormones) on behavior.

Example: Mood swings contributing to impulsive actions.