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The Problem Behavior Syndrome (PBS) and Juvenile Delinquency

Problem behavior syndrome can be described as exhibiting risk-taking or undesirable behavior that results in negative responses such as incarceration or verbal disapproval, to name a few. Delinquency, truancy, drug, and alcohol use are some of the problem-behavior practices adopted by adolescents suffering from this syndrome (Siegel & Welsh, 2017). Consequently, individuals suffering from the syndrome are prone to higher suicidal rates, unemployment, academic underachievement, and substance abuse compared to adolescents who do not suffer from PBS.

Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency describes the illegal actions committed by a minor ranging from minor crimes such as not attending school to serious ones like violence (Siegel & Welsh, 2017). To prevent future crimes, it is important to unearth behaviors that predispose juveniles to delinquency. Firstly, juvenile delinquency is influenced by peer pressure from direct acquaintances. Juveniles are pressured to play a part when all their friends exercise delinquency. Peer pressure can be resolved by understanding adolescents and knowing the friends and parents. This helps keep the juveniles from the bad behavioral influence and puts the responsibility on the child to do the right thing (Jamir Singh & Azman, 2020).

The other behavior that influences delinquency is violence in the social sphere. When a child lives in a violent neighborhood/home, their chances of developing delinquent behavior increases due to the need to nurture street survival skills (Siegel & Welsh, 2017). This can be eliminated by shifting the juvenile from the violent environment and create a more conducive sphere where there is no pressure to fight for survival and can nurture positive behavior (Jamir Singh & Azman, 2020).

Poor attendance of school and inadequate education is another behavior that nurtures juvenile delinquency (Siegel & Welsh, 2017). Other than learning and growth, the school environment offers students with daily goals to fulfill. The school attendance routine nurtures a basis for proper decision making and students who are inconsistent in learning the routine lack the requisite skills to nurture good habits. Besides, they have too much spare time to learn other things that are detrimental to their future. Besides, the freedom to violate school routine means that the children are learning to do what pleases them and ignore societal norms. This can be resolved by instilling strict adherence to school attendance among children and making the school environment orderly and disciplined.