Impact of Gender and Family Structure on Juvenile Delinquency

Gender and Family Structure on Juvenile Delinquency
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Gender and Family Structure on Juvenile Delinquency
Researchers have established that gender plays an essential role in juvenile delinquency. Generally, juvenile offenders have specific defining characteristics that those who are not involved in the criminal behavior lack. For example, most juvenile offenders have less education, more mental health challenges, more aggression, and have higher abuse and poverty rates. In terms of gender, males tend to commit more crimes than females. The key factors between the two groups that may affect their decisions to avoid or participate in delinquent acts can be categorized as biological, psychological, and social factors.
Gender and Juvenile Delinquency
Biologically, researchers believe that the biological differences between males and females contribute to their differing rates of juvenile delinquency. For example, males are more prone to aggression compared to females, which in turn increases their chances of engaging in crime. The psychological perspective argues that the psychological status of males and females contribute to delinquency. For example, female offenders have shown a higher tendency of internalizing mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. On the contrary, males tend to exhibit externalizing mental disorders, such as ADHD and conduct disorders. The social perspective assumes that females tend to exhibit lower crime rates because of the way the society perceives them. Generally, females are expected to be less aggressive, confrontational, and impulsive. In addition, the society is more tolerable towards male delinquents than their female counterparts. Such perceptions may deter the females from engaging in criminal activities.
Family Factors
Family factors play an essent...