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CHILD ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY - THE DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACT OF SOCIAL ISOLATION

NCJ Number
60300
Author(s)
J GARBARINO
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
SOCIAL CONDITIONS COMMON TO CHILD ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE IDENTIFIED AND ANALYZED, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL POLICY ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
BOTH CHILD ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE SUBJECT TO A VARIETY OF DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS WHICH INVOLVE KEY ISSUES IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE ORGANIZATION OF SOCIETY. ABUSE AND DELINQUENCY ARE ALSO SYMPTOMATIC OF INADEQUATE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONTROL AND CULTURAL DEVIANCE. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT WHICH ISSUES IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF POSITIVE ADULT ROLES AS WORKER, CITIZEN, AND PROCREATOR REQUIRES THE INFLUENCE OF PROSOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS. THE MAJOR NECESSARY CONDITION FOR CHILD ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS ISOLATION FROM POTENT PROSOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS. SOCIAL ISOLATION EXPERIENCED BY ABUSING PARENTS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS MAKES THEM VULNERABLE TO BOTH PATHOGENIC STRESSES AND ANTISOCIAL INFLUENCES. WHILE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE MANY AND DIVERSE, IT IS THEIR SHARED NECESSARY CONDITION OF SOCIAL ISOLATION THAT MUST BECOME THE FOCUS SCIENCE, POLICY, AND PRACTICE. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE SHOULD BE TO REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION. SOME WAYS TO DO THIS ARE: (1) IDENTIFICATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF 'NATURAL NEIGHBORS' WHO CAN INTERVENE IN ISOLATED FAMILIES TO CREATE SUPPORT SYSTEM RELATIONSHIPS; (2) ESTABLISHMENT OF HUMAN SERVICE TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO FORM ENDURING PROSOCIAL PERSONAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS; (3) EDUCATION FOR SOCIALIZATION TO ADULTHOOD EMPHASIZING EFFECTIVE LIFE MANAGEMENT; (4) BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT TO IDENTIFY THE OBJECTIVE CORRELATES OF SOCIAL ISOLATION; (5) PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND COMBAT ISOLATION; AND (6) KEY DEVELOPMENTAL TRANSITIONS (SUCH AS BIRTH ENTRANCE TO SCHOOL, CHANGE OF SCHOOL, ETC.) USE IN ASSESSMENT OF THE FAMILY SOCIAL NETWORKS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)