Unit 45

Deviance and Delinquency
UNIT 45: Deviance and Delinquency
Introduction
In this unit, we are dealing with the problem of deviant behaviour in later
childhood and adolescence. The problem is not common among younger
children, but increases considerably as children near adolescence. It will be
seen that the early detection of delinquent behaviour or anti-social tendencies
is very important.
Specific Objectives
By the end of this unit you will be able to:
1. Define the terms ‘anti-social’.

2. Differentiate between deviance and delinquency.
3. Identify causes of deviance and delinquency.
4. Suggest possible solutions to the problem.
Anti-social Behaviour
Most psychologists believe that some individuals inherit a genetic

predisposition to anti-social behaviour and are more at risk to develop
delinquent behaviour. What is inherited is not a gene for delinquency, but a
greater tendency to irritability, to being impulsive and insensitivity to
emotions in others, as well as a certain amount of hyperactivity. These are
part of our temperament which is generally believed to be inherited.
Anti-social behaviour does not refer to unfriendliness or lack of sociable

behaviour. It means behaviour that breaks the norms of society in which we
live. Anti-social behaviour is the term which describes behaviours the society
classes as deviant or delinquent.
Cyril Potter College Of Education 237

Problem Behaviours in Childhood and Adolescence
Deviance is a much more general term than delinquency. Deviance includes

behaviour such as jaywalking (and crossing the road when the ‘red man’ is
showing!), bad table manners and rudeness to elders; in short, any behaviour
that is against the norms or rules of behaviour accepted by our society.
People who habitually display unacceptable manners may be classed as
deviants.
Delinquency, however, refers specifically to breaking the rules against

criminal behaviour – official rules or laws, such as those against stealing,
attacking others, carrying unlicenced weapons and murder.
Some offences are only delinquent when indulged in by juveniles or those less
than 18 years – these are called ‘status offences’ and include truancy,
drinking alcohol or running away from home.
 Can you think of any others?
Prevalence of Delinquency
In many countries, statistics show that delinquency among adolescents has

been increasing. Much of the delinquency consists of crimes against property
such as street crime (snatching jewellery), destruction of property and car or
bicycle theft.
There is, more worrying, evidence that the figures, high as they are, may be
even higher because many adolescent crimes are not reported. For example, a
shopkeeper catching a teenager shoplifting may scold him and reclaim the
item especially if the teen appears to be of a ‘good’ or ‘respectable’ family.
Crimes performed by poorer youths or those of a lower social class are usually
more readily reported to the police.
Also, many youths get away with delinquent behaviour because the
behaviour is not detected.
Therefore, actual rates of delinquency may be much higher than ‘official’

statistics show.
Violent crime among youths is also on the increase. This is partly due to the
greater availability of weapons such as guns and knives.

In many parts of the world, violent crime among adolescents is higher than in
the adult population and higher among males than females.
One explanation is that the adolescent brain is still immature and growing.
At adolescence, the limbic system which is associated with strong primal
emotional reactions such as fear and anger becomes very active. Increases in
hormones cause the amygdala, located in the limbic system and believed to
influence the production of aggressive impulses, to enlarge. At the same time,
the prefrontal cortex, considered responsible for thinking, making rational
judgements and controlling emotions, is lagging behind in growth. This may
be responsible for the rash, impulsive behaviour of many adolescents.
 Activity 45: 1  10 minutes
1. Without looking back at the text, see if you can differentiate between
deviance and delinquency. Give examples of each.
2. What is meant by anti-social behaviour?
3. Why is there an increase in violent crime at adolescence?
Feedback : Now check your answers against the text of the unit.
Reread the appropriate section if you were wrong.
Under Socialised Delinquents
In some cases, it may be seen from as early as eight years, that a child has a
problem with anti-social behaviour. The earlier the tendency to anti-social
behaviour shows itself, the more difficult and grim is the outlook, as these
children are more flawed psychologically.
Usually, children who show early tendencies to anti-social behaviour are from
families which are dysfunctional – divided homes, with hostile or neglectful
parents, who have abused their children and are unable or unwilling to teach
proper standards of behaviour or self-control.
Because the parents are cold and do not meet the child’s emotional needs, the
child may ‘act up’, which brings what the child wants – attention. Hostile or
aggressive behaviour towards the child may result in aggression being

internalized and shown towards younger children or animals and later

elderly or helpless adults.
The child may suffer so much stress or trauma – divorce, abuse, lack of love,
loss of loved ones and humiliations – that these traumas may cause the child
to shut down emotionally, unable to trust or show sympathy or love.
From an early age these children may show:
 A history of violent behaviour.

 Resistance to authority.
 Stealing and lying.
As they move toward adolescence, anti-social behaviour increases and the

following characteristics are seen in these children:
 Poor academic performance, backwardness;
 Early involvement in sex;
 Abuse of drugs including alcohol; and
 Truancy.
Because they have learnt dysfunctional ways of coping, they are aggressive
and difficult and avoided by most children. They therefore move towards
other violent, aggressive and unpopular children and become involved in
gang behaviour and increasing deviance.
Treatment of the Delinquent Child
The earlier the anti-social child is identified and treated, the more hopeful is
his future.
Treatment has to be thorough – it should include counselling of the parents

and involvement of agencies in the community such as youth clubs, social
welfare department and social workers, and the church.
Children who are delinquent do not usually suffer from low self-esteem and it
has not been found that counselling aimed at improving self-esteem is
effective in stopping delinquent behaviour.
However, improvement in parenting and teaching of social skills; remedial

teaching and teaching of skills needed in the workplace; support systems
such as probation officers and family counsellors; and removal from the
influence of deviant or delinquent peers have made some impact provided
they have been introduced early enough.

Socialised Delinquents
Some adolescents perform delinquent acts under pressure from the peer
group. These are generally not anti-social types and their behaviour has few
roots in early childhood. They may drink or try drugs because their peers are
doing do and may shoplift for ‘kicks’ but delinquent behaviour is often
performed no more than once or twice, and they return to normal social
behaviour once out of the reach of the peer group. Most of these ‘socialised
delinquents’ are youths whose parents do not show signs of psychological
abnormality.
Gender Differences in Delinquency
Males are most often involved in violence or aggressive behaviour than

females. Girls’ psychological problems during adolescence may show up in
depression while the males are more likely to ‘act out’ or externalise their
problems in drug abuse or criminal behaviour.
Anti-social girls are sometimes involved in gangs but seldom perform violent
or aggressive acts. They may be involved in early or promiscuous sexual
behaviour, becoming vulnerable to teenage pregnancy or sexually
transmitted diseases, and may drift into prostitution later in life.
 Activity 45:2  10 minutes
1. What are the main differences between ‘socialised’ and ‘unsocialised’

delinquents?
2. Discuss the role of the family in the development of delinquent
behaviour.
3. What are some gender differences in anti-social behaviour?
Feedback : All of the answers are spelt out in the text. Check your
answers against the text.


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Deviance and Delinquency

UNIT 45: Deviance and Delinquency

By the end of this unit you will be able to:

1. Define the terms ‘anti-social’.

Most psychologists believe that some individuals inherit a genetic

Anti-social behaviour does not refer to unfriendliness or lack of sociable

Cyril Potter College Of Education 237

Deviance and Delinquency

Deviance is a much more general term than delinquency. Deviance includes

Delinquency, however, refers specifically to breaking the rules against

 Can you think of any others?

In many countries, statistics show that delinquency among adolescents has

Therefore, actual rates of delinquency may be much higher than ‘official’

Cyril Potter College Of Education 238

 Activity 45: 1  10 minutes

Under Socialised Delinquents

Cyril Potter College Of Education 239

internalized and shown towards younger children or animals and later

From an early age these children may show:

 A history of violent behaviour.

As they move toward adolescence, anti-social behaviour increases and the

Treatment of the Delinquent Child

Treatment has to be thorough – it should include counselling of the parents

However, improvement in parenting and teaching of social skills; remedial

Cyril Potter College Of Education 240

Gender Differences in Delinquency

Males are most often involved in violence or aggressive behaviour than

 Activity 45:2  10 minutes

1. What are the main differences between ‘socialised’ and ‘unsocialised’

Cyril Potter College Of Education 241

Cyril Potter College Of Education 242

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