the impact of external societal factors on a juvenile's decision to participate in delinquency

• Social Control Theory:
  • Strong social bonds (with family, school, and community) deter delinquency.
  • Weakened social bonds, due to factors like family instability or lack of community support, increase the likelihood of delinquent behavior.

Three External Societal Factors:

• Peer Influence:
  • Association with delinquent peers is a strong predictor of juvenile delinquency. Peer pressure can lead youth to engage in behaviors they wouldn't otherwise consider, in order to gain acceptance or avoid rejection.  
• Socioeconomic Factors (Poverty):
  • Poverty can create environments of stress, limited opportunities, and exposure to crime.  
  • Juveniles from disadvantaged backgrounds may resort to delinquent acts as a means of survival or to obtain material goods.  
• Community Environment:
  • Living in a high-crime neighborhood can expose juveniles to violence, drugs, and other forms of delinquency.  
  • Lack of access to positive role models, recreational activities, and educational resources can further contribute to the problem.  
  • Also a lack of community support systems.

It's important to understand that these factors often interact and compound each other, creating complex pathways to juvenile delinquency.