What is the main cause of anti-social behaviour?

Question

Is there anyone else who thinks the main cause of anti-social behaviour particularly among the younger offenders is status or popularity? Is it mainly about showing off to their peer group?

Answer 1

It appears in my opinion that the electronic tag is a status symbol as is an ASBO.The youth of today seem to think that it is great to be a thug. Throw them all in a boot camp or bring back National Service. The anti-social behaviour is becomming quite concerning now therefore the government should be looking seriously to ammend the laws in order to protect all of us as the amount of victims is growing rapidly. There is no respect anymore in todays youth. I wonder how they themselves would feel if one of their own families were to be subjected to anti-social behaviour/s.

Answer 2

The crass answer to your question is anti social people. On a more serious note I recall some event (fictional or real I can't remember) but the essence of which was someone being questioned by a peer. The question was why they behaved the way they did (honourably) when there would be no way of them being discovered if they didn't. The curt answer was I guess its the way I was raised. Enough said I think. Anti social behaviour is largely the fault of parenting. A simple enough thing is sitting around a table at mealtimes without a TV in the background and being able to converse and interact (this involves listening as well as talking) and learn about what is going on in the lives of the rest of the household. This can be followed by simple things like those who didn't help with the preparation doing the washing up. This probably sounds like crap to a nation of TV vegetables but it makes for a stimulating conversation and more understanding of others. Like the dumbing down of TV it also works on a drip feed basis and takes very little effort but I would suggest creates less antisocial people. Anyone who blames teachers is probably the sort of person who would own a dog, not take it for walks often and wonder why it destroys furniture and craps everywhere. I personally see very little difference in the two scenarios except perhaps the vehemance of the denial of both parties. Its an old cliche if you can't do the time don't do the crime. Ignoring children and pets is criminal maybe not in law (unless in the what society sees as extreme) but there we have it. OK rant over Cheers

Answer 3

Sorry, I've worked in the Juvenile Justice system for over 22 years and I can tell you none of those is the 'main cause' for anti-social behaviors. What I have found (and yes, I can back it up with statistics) is that over 80% of the offenders I work with have been abused and/or neglected by their parents or main care-givers. So, my conclusion is that the younger the offender the more they are in need of an adult who takes care of and protects them.

Answer 4

Liberalism (the national plague) has destroyed the family and because fathers are often not present, children become very corrupted by the world, gangs, sick music, drugs and so on. I tell you that this breakdown of the family is the number one cause!

The school system (which has become like a prison for children) also tends to drive them mad and sometimes abuses young people by forcing upon them dangerous, mind-altering drugs if they don't conform to "the system" or show signs of normalcy. Many who became violent delinquents were shown to have been affected by this.

Well, I've described what's going on in the homes and the schools and the third factor, of course is their peers, to whom they turn because adults have let them down!

Answer 5

Society. We think rebellious behaviour is cool, it's all so easy. Self discipline is a no-no. We worship celebrities who are cokeheads who indulge in adulterous relationships and we think that these people are our role models. Look at this site - how many people discuss getting drunk as an activity?
We need to stop making excuses for our society and our adolescents. Punishments aren't serious enough. We have too many "appeals" when kids are expelled etc. Prison sentences should be tougher and longer. People should be made to take responsbility for their actions. Do away with benefits for single mothers. All of this is within reason of course.

Answer 6

No, it's a way of minding one's own business, you can't expect everyone to live their life because that is the way you think they should live it. Then again, that person that sports the anti-social behavior must be pretty important to the people discussing him or the people that question his anti-socialism must not have a life, therefore, they classify the other person as anti-social. For example, my friends like to travel. I would rather keep to myself. I enjoy what I have, yet they stick their noses in as I have horses, dogs & birds to take care of. I have to have these animals, I love them. They are important to me. But these people feel that I should get rid of my pets so that I can do what they think I should do. [If find that my animals are better than most people!] One of them has even gone so far as to tell me that one of their friends always stayed home & then died. How ignorant. My reply was, my mother stays home, & she is 87. So, who cares what they think! I just don't like the bull-hit, & gossip; and to think I moved to a rural area on 20 acres, to get away from the rat race of the city! Those kind are the kind that get bored, I don't need to live my life to please them. My retirement is my vacation, & I get plenty of excercise! Whereas, they are driving around, getting big & fat. I hope you can understand my view on the subject! Thank you for allowing me to vent about this "anti-socialism behavior".

Answer 7

I think the root cause is poverty and hopelessness , but yes having a ' bad ' reputation does get you status if you're a gang member in particular neighbourhoods or in the younger generation. Basically it's because they think they have ' power' when they are in a gang and can intimidate people and bully them and kill them. I've never thought doing time as a status thing , but nowadays it seems to be. How sad!

Answer 8

And the quicker we have a law preventing them gathering in a group of three or more, it will pass. When the police get to a crowd of chavs out for some trouble, they should haul in all they can get in their squad car or van, and keep them, as they are allowed to, for nearly 24 hours, not letting them sleep for long, making sure they are in a cell on Friday or Saturday night with the local noisy drunks alongside, keep interviewing them every three hours, and turn them out 23 hours and 45 minutes later. This would let the scum know that they can either keep out of trouble, or endure this all again, and again, and again.
And before I get do-gooders telling me to 'understand' troubled youth, I WASN'T a pain in the butt to anyone when I was their age, and I respect the rights of people to have a good nights' sleep, rather than let them hear all about who's banged who and where, and have them witness the fight about it.

Answer 9

It is caused by the situations in which children are brought up.. many families experience poverty, and this 'exclusion' from society grows the feeling that they are 'outside'.

It is no use blaming the parents, because they usually were excluded themselves, and that' s not good. They grew up knowing a similar anguish.

Answer 10

Its the upbringing and situation at home - if the parents/guardians have an invested love and care for the kid then there will be instill discipline and guide them through their adoloscence.

Adoloscence and peer pressure is a factor too but there a plenty of teens who behave well so again its down to the parents. Teachers have their responsiblity but thats only limited to school.