RESUMO
This empirical work focuses on the impact of unsupportive and harsh family practices on youth criminal behaviour. The present study hypothesizes that the harsh practices and low support of a family are the contributing factors for street crimes and that family practices increase the intensity of youth street criminality, particularly in a Pakistani society. While studying youth delinquent behaviour in a Pakistani society, this study employs general strain theory (GST), which has not been employed in any research in Pakistan till date. Thus, the authors examined the variables of the study from the view point of general strain theory (GST). A diverse sample size of 300 street criminals, housed in different jails of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) was selected randomly. However, from each jail, the sample respondents were selected through proportion allocation strategy. Moreover, primary data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed through a series of steps, which involved exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structure equation modeling (SEM). These analyses helped in determining the relationship between family harsh practices, and low family support, with youth participation in street crimes. Findings of this study offer evidence that family harsh practices and low family support directly trigger youth participation in street crimes. The present study does not only confirm the hypothetical statement of GST regarding positive and negative stimuli but also add up the significant contribution in the existing literature from the context of Pakistani society. Initiating awareness programs and sessions regarding different parental skills by sociologist and psychologist on community level, as well as the need for the sociologists and psychologist to provide assistance while addressing psychological issues of offenders are some of the recommendations based on the study findings.
RESUMO
Este trabajo indaga por los temores que experimentan los habitantes de las ciudades y por la estructura conceptual que comparten sobre las situaciones temidas actualmente. Se analizan los resultados de 130 entrevistas semiestructuradas, orientadas a identificar los temores más comunes de hombres y mujeres asociados a la ciudad y la estructura conceptual que subyace a estos temores. Los resultados obtenidos se analizaron con un Escalamiento Multidimensional, que permitió identificar la estructura del miedo que muestran los participantes a distintas situaciones. Se proponen acciones en procura de la reducción de la percepción de inseguridad en la ciudad.
This paper focuses on fears experienced by the dwellers of the city and the conceptual structure shared on the situations that currently are feared. The results of 130 semi-structured interviews aimed at identifying the most common fears of men and women associated with the city and the conceptual structure underlying these fears are analyzed. The results were analyzed trough a Multidimensional Scaling, which identified the conceptual fear structure of participants to different situations. Actions in an attempt to reduce the perception of insecurity in the city are proposed.
