CYIL 2012

SŁAWOMIR REDO

CYIL 3 (2012)

This study (now in its ninth edition), 27 competed with Bowlby’s work “citation classic” and its results were corroborated by other U.S. and foreign studies. 28 The study found that “attachment” (or the “bond of affection,” i.e. affectional indentification through which a youth is sensitive to others’ opinions (parents, peers, teachers, community leaders, etc.), communicates openly and mutually respects, identifies, and values his/her relationship with them), was a driving force behind the other three bonds, the strength of all of which was statistically measured in reply to survey questions. Accordingly, the study found that the bonding process started with the “attachment” to parents. Next, it went through “commitment” – a person’s rational assessment of his/her own fear of law-breaking behaviour. Then it continued with “involvement” in (il)legitimate activities (“idle hands are the devil’s workshop”), i.e. how a person becomes involved in his/her range of social actions and relationships. Finally, the bonding process results in “belief”- the acceptance of common moral values within the society whose norms are being violated. In line with this moral/social essence of attachment, the study also found that the parents of non-delinquents were more likely to know what their children were up to when they were out of view than the parents of delinquents, suggesting that this measure was only a proxy for the child’s “affectional identification” with their parents. The study also found that an increased affectional identification (sensitivity to the wishes and feelings of parents) with them reduced the likelihood of delinquency, regardless of the number of peer delinquent friends. However, such friends matter if the attachment is stronger with them than with parents. In either case, and, paradoxically, this is a confirmation of the psychological impact of sensitivity to others’ opinions. 29 The more current meta-analytical studies of the WHO also confirm such intergenerational effects. However, the Organization adds that “ it is unclear whether the improvements in childhood behaviour that various interventions strive for can be linked to reduced use of violence later in life… Programmes should be encouraged to conduct evaluations that measure not only effects on violent behaviour, but also their economic costs and benefits. Although early childhood programmes have generated some positive results, the majority of evaluations have focused on … developed countries. Early childhood programmes have been implemented in developing countries… but their effect on levels of violent behaviour or its risk factors have rarely been evaluated. Owing to social and cultural differences, one cannot necessarily apply the results of research in developed countries to other parts of the world. More research is urgently needed, therefore, on the applicability and effectiveness of early childhood violence prevention programmes in developing countries ”. 30 27 Hirschi, T., Causes of Delinquency, Transaction Publishers, Piscataway, N. J. 2009, pp. 3, 11 & 86-87. 28 See further: Siegel L. J., Welsh, B. C., Juvenile Delinquency. Theory, Practice and Law, Wadsworth 2011, p. 161. 29 Gadd, D. & Jefferson, T., Psychosocial Criminology. An Introduction, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, Ca., 2007, p. 26. 30 Violence Prevention. The Evidence. Preventing Violence through the Development of Safe, Stable and Nurturing Relationships between Children and their Parents and Caregivers , World Health Organization, Geneva, 2004, p. 14.

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