Juvenile Delinquency and

Juvenile Justice System

(CRIM105)
 Periods of Human
Development and their
significance to Juvenile
Delinquency
 All persons undergo the different periods of
development in his life cycle.
In every period of development, he experiences
expected and fixed changes such as physical, emotional,
cognitive and social changes and because there are
certain changes expected to happen in each period the
individual must make certain adjustments to handle
these changes.
Knowing these periods of development and the
changes that go with each period is the key to
understanding…,

>> Why individuals think and act the way they do?
>> Why certain experiences can have lasting positive or
negative effects?
>> and Why certain individuals are more likely to commit
delinquent acts than others?

In developmental psychology, a life span is

comprised of several periods, but the focus of the
discussion in this chapter is on prenatal, early childhood,
late childhood and adolescence.
THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

>> Development is a process that produces a

progressive series of orderly and coherent changes which
lead to, and end with maturity.

>> Development is caused by two (2) interacting factors:

Heredity (nature) and environment (nurture).

 Heredity is the transmission of traits from parents to

offspring through the genes, while environment
includes all the forces that affect or influence man.

 Heredity brings about development through the

process of maturation, which is the unfolding of the
hereditary potentials, while the other process of
development that occurs through the medium of the
environment is called learning (Bustos, Malolos,
Ramirez, Ramos, Bustos-Orosa, 1999).
 THE ROLE OF GENETICS IN
DEVELOPMENT

Genetics is the science of heredity.

• Genes contain the traits of both the father and mother

and that is why genes are called the carries of heredity.
Each individual receives an equal number of genes from
both parents.
• Genes dictate the physical , intellectual, moral, social
and psychological – from the moment of his conception.

Heredity is not something that can be controlled.

Parents cannot choose to pass on only the best traits

that they have to their children. Since an individual is the
product of the genes of both his parents, he cannot
escape the dictates of his heredity, wether good or bad.
The combination of genes that go into the single cell
which results from fertilization is a matter of chance, in
the principlesof heredity, this is what the principle of
chance is about (Bustos atal, 1999).
Figures 4 and 5. Chromosomes which contain the genes, the carries of heredity (Source:
www.yahoo.com\images)
 PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT

1.) PRENATAL PERIOD

The prenatal period starts from conception and
lasts up to birth. The prenatal period has three (3)
stages:
•the germinal stage,
•the embryonic stage and the
•fetal stage.

ˆConception marks the beginning of four development

into a human being. Conception or fertilization is the
union of the sperm cell and egg cell and it takes place
within twelve (12) to thirt-six (36) hours from the time of
sexual intercourse (Hurlock 1982).

ˆConception can only happen when there is a mature

egg cell, or ovum, in the uterus and when the sperm is
healthy enough to reach the mature egg cell.
 Figure 6. The sperm Cells Reaching the Egg Cells (Source: www.yahoo.com\images)

Figure 7 and 8. Human Sperm Cells and Human Egg Cell (Source: www.yahoo.com\images)

Once the ovum has been fertilized, it is called a

zygote. The first two weeks following conception is the
germinal stage.
 Figure 9. The Germinal Stage (Source: www.yahoo.com\images)

Once the Zygote is implanted or attached to the wall of

the uterus, the embryonic stage begins.

• The embryonic stage covers the second to eigth week

following conception.
At this stage, the zygote is now called an embryo and
that organs, such as bones, muscles, spinal cord, eyes,
heart, arms, legs and the face will begin to develop and
because this is the time when the basic organs are
formed, this is the stage when most major birth defects
occur (Plotnik, 2006).
 Figure 10. ultrasound Image of an Eight- Week old Embryo (Source: Authors Own)

The period covering the eight week after conception

until the baby is born is the fetal stage.
During this stage, the fetus continues to form the
rest of the organs. by the sixth (6th) month, the fetus
already has functioning lungs. the birth signals the end of
the fetal stage and the fetus now becomes a newborn
(Plotnik, 2006).
It is during the embryonic stage and the fetal stage
that the developing individual is especially vulnerable to
toxic agents and chemicals (Plotnik, 2006) These include
certain medications, llegal drugs, alcohol, nicotine, as
well as certain viruses and bacteria.
 Figure 11. Pre- Natal Development (Source: www.yahoo.com\images)

These harmful elements can cause serious birth

defects in the form of physical abnormalities such as
brain damage, and put the child at greater risks for
developing other physical and psychological problems in
the future.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRENATAL PERIOD TO
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Aside from genetics, the parents, especially the

mother are greatly responsible for the kind of individual
the person will be. The lifestyle and the habits of the
mother during her pregnant will greatly affect the
condition of the child, such as the following:

1.) Use of illegal drugs

2.) smoking nicotine
3.) drinking alcoholic beverages
4.) use of medicines without the advice of the doctor.
5.) exposure to viruses and bacteria such as chicken pox, measles,
6.) material stress caused by problems
7.) not taking food supplements an vitamins
8.) not eating nourishing foods
9.) being in a violent environment
10.) taking abortifacient drugs
11.) exposure to harmful chemicals
 These are just some of the situation during pregnancy
that can have lifelong negative effects, wether physical or
psychological, on the child.
when any of these happened, there is a possibility
that the child would grow up having physical deformities
and psychological disorders that can make him feel
inferior to others, develop in him low self- esteem and
eventually cause aggressive behavior and violent
tendencies.

1.) EARLY AND LATE CHILDHOOD

Early childhood starts from two (2) years

old to six years (6) old , while late childhood is
from six (6) years old. Puberty marks the end
of childhood and signals the beginning of
adolescence.

EMOTIONAL CHANGES DURING EARLY CHILDHOOD

Emotions are especially intense during early
childhood. The most common emotions during this
period are anger, fear, Jealousy, curiosity, envy, joy, grief
and affection. The major emotional hazard of early
childhood is the dominance of the unpleasant emotions,
especially anger (Hurlock, 1982).

EMOTIONAL CHANGES DURING LATE CHILDHOOD

Older children soon discover that expression of
emotions, especially unpleasant emotions is socially
unacceptable.
As a result, older children acquire a strong incentive
to learn to control the outward expressions of their
emotions (Hurlock, 1982).

SOCIAL CHANGES DURING EARLY CHILDHOOD

The early childhood is called the pregang age. The
foundations for socialization are laid as the number of
contacts young children have with their peers increases.

Children who prefer interacting with people develop

more social skills than those with limited interactions
(Hurlock, 1982).
SOCIAL CHANGES DURING LATE CHILDHOOD

Late childhood is often referred to as the gang age

because it is characterized by interest in peer activities,
an increasingly strong desire to be an accepted member
of a children’s gang.
Older children are no longer satisfied to play at home
alone or with siblings or do things with family members
( Hurlock, 1982).

MORAL DEVELOPMENT DURING EARLY

CHILDHOOD

Moral development in early childhood is on a

low level. The reason for this is that young childrens
intellectual development has not yet reached the
point where they can learn or apply abstract
principles of right and wrong (Hurlock, 1982).
MORAL DEVELOPMENT DURING LATE CHILDHOOD

One of the important developmental tasks of

late childhood is the development of conscience. As
children reach the end of childhood, their moral
codes gradually approach those of the adults with
whom they are associated and their behavior
conforms more closely to the standards set yup by
these adults (Hurlock, 1982) .

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CHILDHOOD PERIOD ON

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

The childhood period is very important to

development. the foundations laid during the childhood
periods and the adjustments that the child will be
capable of in later life (Bustos, et al, 1999).
A happy childhood is believed to be a good predictor
of how well the child would adjust in later life. In the
same manner, traumatic experiences in childhood have
the potential of affecting the emotional, cognitive and
social development of the child, which can affect him
well into adulthood.

2.) PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence is a developmental period, lasting

from about ages twelve (12) to eighteen (18),
during which many biological, cognitive, social,
emotional and personality traits change from
child-like to adult-like (Plotnik, 2006).
It is the period between childhood and
adulthood which is why it is also called a transition
period.

PHYSICAL CHANGES
Puberty, on the other hand, refers to the
developmental period between the ages of nine (9) and
seventeen (17), when the individual experiences
significant biological changes that result in developing
secondary sexual characteristics and reaching sexual
maturity (Plotnik, 2006).
 •Puberty is the time when the sex organs mature and
boys and girls become capable reproducing.
~Start of menstruation marks the beginning of puberty
for girls, which usually happens between ages eleven (11)
and thirteen (13).
~ For boys, it is when they start producing sperm cells,
usually between ages (14) to sixteen (16). Also, the
secondary sex characteristics start to manifest during this
period.
SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS
BOYS GIRLS
Facial hair on the upper lip and on the Absence of facial hair
chin
Rougher and thicker skin Finer and smoother skin
Thicker body hair on the arms, legs Finer body hair all over the body
and other body parts.
Thicker public hair Finer pubic hair
Presence of Adams apple Absence of Adamas apple
Undefined breasts Prominent breasts
Broader shoulders Narrow shoulders
Narrower hips Broader hips
Flatter buttocks Fuller buttocks
Defines muscles Undefines muscles
Low-pitched voice High-pitched voice
Table 1. secondary sex Characteristics
 All these changes are broughgt about by hormones
produced by the gonads, the glands responsible for the
production of the male and female hormones.

Hormones are chemicals secreted by the different

glands that make up the endocrine system.
Different glands produce different kinds of hormones
that affect bodily functions,including behavior.

The hormones that are most influential in adoloscent

behavaior are the sex hormones.

 For males, these are the testes, while for females,

these are the ovaries Testosterone is the dominant
male hormones while estrogen is the dominant
female hormones.

 This is the reason why males and females look, think,

act and feel differently.
Figure 12. The Endocrine System (Source : www.yahoo.com\images)

EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE CHANGES

Aside from the physical changes, the child also

undergoes significant emotional and cognitive changes
during the adolescent period.
These changes are also influenced by the same
hormones that cause the physical changes. At the same
time, this is due to the fact that the part of the human
brain repsonsible for clear thinking and reasoning is still
under developed during this period (Plotnik, 2006).
This part is the Prefrontal Cortex.

Figure 13. Parts of the Brain {Source : www.yahoo.com\images)

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF
ADOLESCENT BOYS AND GIRLS
BOYS GIRLS
Tends to resort to aggressive Starts acting demurely
behavior
Becomes short-tempered and Becomes sensitive and moody
moody
rash Impulsive and moody
Prone to thrill-seeking activities Starts having romantic notions
Prone to risk-taking activities Engages in day-dreaming
Carefree and easy-go-lucky Becomes shy
Tends to put too much Starts feeling conscious about
importance on the physical looks. physical looks
Starts having interest in girls Starts having interest in boys
Becomes secretive Becomes secretive
Table 2. Common characteristics of Male and Female Adolescents

SOCIAL CHANGES
During childhood, the most important people in a
childs life are his parents and family.

When the child becomes adolescent …

1. He starts identifying more with his friends.
2. He starts wanting to spend more time with them
outside than stay at home.
 3. His friends opinion now matter more to him than his
family and he is more intent to please them and
impress them.
4. He craves the attention of other people and seeks
their approval.

5. He wants to explore and find his identity and just be

free.

This is the time for experimentation. Adolescents

start being curious about what are considered bad
habits and starts trying them out, of course, in the
company of his friends, includes…

 Drinking alcoholic
 smoking
 gambling,
 staying out late at night,
 watching porn,
 even trying out illegal drugs.

This is also the time when they start getting into romantic
relationships with the opposite sex. Because of the raging
hormones and the overwhelming curiosity.
 They also begin experimenting with physical
intimacies, such as kissing, fondling and sexual
intercourse.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ADOLESCENCE PERIOD

ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

The combinations of the physical, emotional and

social changes have a significant influence on the
adolescents behavior.
It should be pointed out that he experiences all
these changes simultaneosly, which can be a problem he
is unable to cope with them.

Firstly, the physical changes have great impact on his

sel-image. This is especially true for girls because she
starts feeling conscious of
 how she looks
 she starts comparing herself with other girls.
 And when she feels she is not pretty enough her
hair,body, and skin,
 She starts developing low self esteem, which is
dangerous at this period
As for boys,

 He starts comparing himself with other boys

regarding their body, height, strengths, abilities in
sports and other similar aspects.

When he thinks he falls him to either develop low self-

esteem or to start compensating by resorting to
aggressive behavior.

Secondly, an adolescent may feel overwhelmed by

all these sudden changes in his body that his mind is so
confused and his emotions become a mass of feelings
even he himself could not understand and explain.

 He starts feeling pressured from the different

expectations that he has for himself and those that
other people around have of him.

 He then starts to withdraw from the people who

used to be the center of his universe : his parents
and family.
 Lastly, because of his desire to be with
other people, there is a likelihood that he would
fall into bad company.

The influence of peers and the pull of what

is prohibited are just too hard to resist at this
point in a persons life.

And the most natural consequences of all

these is the existence of conflict,
misunderstanding and resentments between
the parents and the adolescent, which might
even push the adolescent to exhibit delinquent
behavior.
Thank You po!