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Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 1

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Psychological Report

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 2

Executive Summary

A professional style report is a report offering guidance to the court on other ways to

provide help to a child other than incarceration. In this report, findings are collected whereby;

psychological trouble is the main cause of children that are neglected being involved in criminal

activities. These children find participating in delinquent behaviors as a way of evading the pain

they are going through with the desire of having someone as a role model. In this report, it is

evident that methodological limitations are generally present to consider children participating in

criminal behavior being aware of what they do. However, in general it is evident that a great

percentage of children participating in criminal behavior are affected psychologically. Due to the

psychological trouble children face, cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and sexual

impairment during development making it difficult for the children to explore their potential and

grow well. Additionally, such children worry less of the risks they get involved in despite

whatever they do. Their main aim is often to acquire attention from their parents and even make

the proud. To be able to help such children, it is important to first enable them recognize the

mistakes they have done and lead them to accepting change. This report provides a general

discussion on children assaulting other children.

Introduction

Forensic psychology emphases on identifying and helping individuals with extreme

psychological problem through their transition and treatment until they get better. In many cases,

individuals associated with criminal behaviors are involved with psychological impairments. The

loss of a parent by a child, a parent leaving their child alone without any explanations is a strong

founder to children being associated with criminal activities. Most children think that being

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 3

associated with criminal activities may create an ability for their parents to recognize them. To

most children, committing and engaging in criminal activities helps create a mentality that they

would have recognition from their parents. Since children lack guidance from their parents and

in search of recognition from their parent get none, the children get psychologically disturbed.

The psychological impairment in children widens when they are changed in different homes and

lack the ability to live as children. This increases the rate in which a child goes through

psychological torture. In this context, we will focus on providing case details and evaluating

aspects, that psychological research can identify in the case explaining the actions of Adam

assaulting another child. In addition, the escalation into more serious offending to develop a set

of recommendations that would provide them with some directions for best intervention such as

accommodation and training/education should be discussed. Our information based on the two

topics will cover the cognitive, social, emotional, and sexual development of a child in

psychological trouble. Additionally, information on the risk factors and protective factors, cycle

of abuse, issues of causality, and methodological limitations of research explaining young

offending are conversed is provided.

Body

Case Details

This case entails a child Adam who sexually assaulted another child. Generally, the

criminal behavior depicted by Adam is increasing daily with time and he is found to be

associated with much more serious crimes from petty ones (Howell, Feld, & Mears, 2012).

Generally, this case focuses on providing explanations on how children can be affected

psychologically, which may lead them to being associated with criminal activities. Moreover, the

roots of children of young age being involved in criminal activities are detailed in this case

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 4

(Leiber, Mack, & Featherstone, 2008). The case provides information on one of the main causes

of children being involved in criminal activities.

Aspects that Psychological Research can identify in the Case Explaining the Actions of

Adam Assaulting another Child

Behaviors shown by children are supported by the surrounding the child has when they

grow up. For a child to fully develop and explore their potential, they ought to grow up in a

secure and comfortable environment (Hipp, 2010). In this case, Adam assaulting another child,

his actions are evidently caused by psychological reasons. The cognitive, social, emotional, and

sexual development of Adam does not seem consistent (Higgins & Boyd, 2008). Due to his

father leaving them and showing no interest in forming a father-son relationship, Adam

expresses his disappointment and cry for affection by being associated with violence (Youth

Offending Team, 2018). Also, their mother giving birth to them with four different fathers has

increased the case of the Adam having psychological problems (Franck & Buehler, 2007).

Cognitively, Adam’s development is slow when compared to that of other children. The

cognitive development of a child being slow may affect their education and even their ability to

acquire knowledge.

The emotional development of psychologically disturbed children is always impaired.

Children need to feel and have the affection and support of their parents or guardian for them to

develop efficiently (Goldson, 2011). When a child lacks the support they need from their parents,

most tend to result into violent activities in order to attain the attention of their parents (Leiber,

Reitzel, & Mack, 2010). Just like Adam, children engaging in criminal activities start out doing

petty crimes with their insinuation that they are punishing their parents and are making them

recognize what they are doing (Franck & Buehler, 2007). Most children think on getting

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 5

involved in such crimes, their parents who initially were not interested in creating a relationship

with them will be proud of what they have done thus reach out. The child’s emotions get

demolished and may make some believe love does not exists (The Crime Victims Institutes,

2008). Due to their need to connect with a guardian or a parent figure, children get involved in

delinquent behaviors, which lead to them participating in serious offenses.

On their social development, children with psychological impairments have difficulties

interacting with other people. They hardly interact socially with other children due to fear of

being judge and some feel not in place. To most children in this state, interacting socially with

other children is to assault other children (Curri & Tekin, 2006). Their mentality is developed in

a state that they have to harass other children in order for them to feel they matter. Additionally,

lack of support and interest from the parents to know how their children’s well-being and daily

activities leads them to hurt others thus acquire attention (Mackey, 2005). On their sexual

development, these children may be disturbed with the physical changes happening in their

bodies (The Crime Victims Institutes, 2008). To most children, especially boys, the changes they

go through during puberty; breaking of their voices, growth of pubic hairs and broadening of

shoulders make them feel like adults.

Due to not understanding the sexual changes they are going through like wet dreams, the

children may opt to be indulged in violent activities (Carlson, 2009). Additionally, not

understanding the sexual development the children are experiencing may lead to a child

assaulting others since, they have no guidance and are interested with others knowing that they

are mature (Mackey, 2006). In addition, the hormones present during such times, menstruation in

girls may be a trigger to involving in criminal activities with the need to be recognized and

appreciated by people they term close to them (Cook, Buehler, & Henson, 2008). To most

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children, due to experiencing psychological trouble, their development in all areas may be

slowed. With expectations for them to develop in a similar manner as the others, these

expectations may be tarnished with the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and their sexual

growth being very slow (Bishop, 2000). When one area of a child is affected, the effect draws

much length to the other areas and may at times make them impaired.

In place of the risk factors and protective factors, children that are psychologically

troubled tend to be associated with many risks than they are of staying safe. When associating

with criminal activities, such children never think of the risks they are getting themselves

involved in and other individuals around (Carlson, 2009). The cycle of abuse to psychological

troubled children is continuous. These children channel their pain and anger in abusing other

children in order to cover their own abuse. Due to their psychological torture and not having any

elderly support around, these children opt to harass and even hurt other children (Bishop, 2000).

The cycle of abuse in their lives, continue to recur. The issue of causality is the main reason for

the psychological trouble children go through. Most criminal activities children are involved in

are due to being psychological trouble (ASC Distance Education, 2011). The participation in

delinquency is often a crime of support, help, and attention from these children to their guardians

(Mack, 2017). Neglect of children by parents is the main cause of children being involved in

criminal activities.

Furthermore, it is not easy to provide information on research stating that children

involved in different criminal activities are often aware of what they do (Wild, 2017). In this

aspect of findings, the methodological research is at most limited. Information statistically

provided indicating that children are conversant with the criminal behavior they get associated

with is often triggered by psychological problems and not their own decisions and desires

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 7

(Amato & Cheadle, 2008). Acting out through being involved in criminal behavior is often

triggered by the desire to be wanted, supported, guided and appreciated by guardians. Due to

most children that are neglected by their parents being moved from one home to another, their

ability to adopt to one secure and comfortable environment is often hindered (ASC Distance

Education, 2011). Therefore, the children end up associating with criminal behavior in order to

attention and are seen in the community (Mack, Leiber, Featherstone, & Monserud, 2007). Due

to the causes behind children associating with criminal activities, methodological information is

near to limited.

Recommendations

The cognitive, emotional, social, and sexual development of Adam is in no way similar to

that of other children and even his siblings. Adam is said to be a social loner and sometimes gets

violent even with his own siblings (Whitworth, 2009). In order to come up with the relevant

recommendations, which be of relevance in finding directions such as accommodation and

training, it is crucial to consider a number of factors concerning the kid (Mason & Prior, 2008).

Some of these factors include the issue of youth offending which Adam got himself involved in.

others include the kind of abuse Adam went through during his childhood (The National Bureau

of Economic Development, 2018). Adam grew up without the love and attention of his father

and mother, and this means that the psychological well-being of this child cannot be similar to

that of most children. Adam’s father has never shown any interest in his child and only contacts

him when it suits him (Omboto, Ondiek, Odera, & Ayugi, 2013). In fact, Adam’s criminal

tendencies can be blamed on his father who has been nothing but a bad influence to the kid.

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 8

Moreover, his mother who is aged 46 has been reported more often than not to social service on

the count of neglecting her children (Prior & Paris, 2005). Adam’s mother is unemployed and

relies on child benefit to keep going. A child like Adam would have great help from his siblings

in dealing with his issues and attempting to live like a normal child (Wang, Peterson, &

Morphey, 2007). However, he is said not to agree with his siblings and this fact places on

another level.

On the bright side however, Adam admitted to a supervising officer that he enjoyed his

stay at the foster home and even described it as the happiest time of his life (Vito & Higgins,

2013). This kind of revelation from Adam plays a crucial part in coming up with the

recommendations for intervention in terms of accommodation. It has been revealed that Adam is

a kid with criminal tendencies, which have been influenced by his father (Richards, 2011).

Therefore, when looking for the best accommodation for his as a form of intervention, it is

important to put into consideration this fact. Adam may be placed in a foster home, as it seems

like it would really do him good in his cognitive and emotional development (Utting, 2012). On

the other hand, while a foster home seems to be the appropriate accommodation for Adam, one

must not forget about the child’s criminal tendencies (Teasdale & Silver, 2009). Adam has

sexually assaulted a fellow child before, and although his actions are not entirely his fault, the

safety of the other children in the foster home cannot be put at risk by disregarding this issue

(Rosenfeld, White, & Esbensen, 2012). Therefore, in the process of finding the right foster home

for Adam, the individuals concerned should find a place where the children have the same

behavior as Adam. Adam should be placed in a foster home with children with similar issues as

himself. However, they should be careful not to overlook the fact that Adam is well aware of his

criminal behavior, its consequences, and his willingness to do away with it (Amato & Cheadle,

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 9

2008). Therefore, besides finding Adam the appropriate Foster home, the individuals concerned

should also identify the relevant training and education for him to stop youth offending.

Furthermore, to most neglected children, a good way to help them avoid being involved

in criminal activities is by taking them to school (Safe society Organizations, 2007). Offering

them a chance to attend school and take part in any particular training that can benefit them is a

good way to help them stop delinquent behavior. Children who are neglected often desire

someone to guide them and show them what they ought to do (SILVER & TEASDALE, 2005).

On being provided with education, these children are able to identify that they have no power

over their parents leaving but they still have people whom care for them and are ready to help

them improve their lives. In addition, on training children, they receive different advices that

enable them grow and become better people (Amato & Cheadle, 2008). Also, this provides a

chance for them to understand how they can channel their anger and become better people

(Singer, 2009). On acquisition of knowledge, the children are able to identify that participating in

different crimes does not affect the parents that left then. It only affects their own lives.

Conclusion

In summary, the number of children participating in crimes due to having psychological

problems is on the rise. Most children neglected and left by their parents end up being involved

with criminal activities. This reduces their chances of identifying their potential and increases

their chances of being involved in more serious crimes as time goes on. Before a child is

incarcerated, it is important for the court and the society to do a background check on the child

and find out what reasons could lead the child to participate in criminal activities. On identifying

that a child is troubled psychologically, the court needs to help appoint a guardian to provide

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 10

support and direction for the child ton work on improving their lives other than being involved in

crime. Generally, children ought to have a secure and stable surrounding for them not to be

involved in criminal activities. It is the duty of every individual in the society to provide

guidance to children and help them develop efficiently.

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL-STYLE REPORT 11

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