Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No.2, 2023 www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet ISSN 2576-1846 (Print) ISSN 2576-1854 (Online) 124 Original Paper Family-type, Childhood Deprivations, Parenting Style, Single Parenting, Broken Home, Peer Influence and Sibling Rivalry as Correlates of Criminal Behaviour among Agodi Inmates, Nigeria Prof. Rotimi Adebayo Animasahun1*, Etzeoghena Joy Iluebbey1 & Veronica Oluwatoyin Animasahun2 1 Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria 2 School of Secondary Education (Science Programmes) Department of Integrated Science, Federal College of Education, Special, Oyo, Nigeria * Prof. Rotimi Adebayo Animasahun, E-mail: animarotimi@yahoo.com Received: April 17, 2023 Accepted: May10, 2023 Online Published: June 2, 2023 doi:10.22158/fet.v6n2p124 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/fet.v6n2p124 Abstract Crime is a problem that is almost as old as man. It has long since been the goal of many stakeholders to find the reason and solution to the problem of crime. Relevant professionals and bodies have still not reached a consensus on the reason for criminal behavior. The goal of this study is to identify any patterns or connections between family - type, single-parenting, parenting style, childhood deprivation, broken home, sibling rivalry, and peer influence and criminal behavior in order to find potential solutions to the problem of crime. The study uses a descriptive research design and involves a sample of 200 inmates selected through simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire consisting of measures of the family - type, single-parenting, broken home, childhood deprivations, sibling rivalry, parenting style, and peer influence was used to collect data. Three research questions were raised for the study and data collected was analyzed through the use of Multiple Regression Analysis, and Correlation tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there were significant relationships between family - type (r=0.642**; p<.05); followed by Peer influence (r=0.628**; p<.05); Broken home (r=0.595**; p<.05); Single - parenting (r=0.560**; p<.05); Childhood deprivation (r=0.551**; p<.05); Parenting style (r=0.547**; p<.05); Sibling rivalry (r=0.122**; p<.05) and criminal behaviors of inmates. Seven independent variables jointly contributed a total of 64.6% (adjusted R2=0.646) to the total variance of the criterion variable (criminal behavior of Agodi inmates, Nigeria). The independent variables made relative contributions to criminal behavior in the following order Family - type (β=0.246, t=6.910; P<0.05); Peer influence (β=0.242, t=7.235; P<0.05); www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 125 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Broken home (β=0.241, t=3.677; P<0.05); Single parenthood (β=0.235, t=3.651; P<0.05); Childhood deprivation (β=0.221, t=3.822; Parenting style (β=0.189, t=0.1.4.370; P<0.05); and finally, Sibling rivalry (β=0.080, t=3.019; P<0.05). This study found that the independent variables contribute significantly to criminal behavior among inmates in Agodi, Nigeria. It suggests that if the situation of families and homes continues to deteriorate, criminal behavior will also continue to increase. The study recommends providing orientation to the public on the role of the family in shaping an individual’s behavior and the causes and effects of criminal behavior in order to address the issue. Keywords Family - type, Single - parenting, Broken home, Parenting style, Childhood deprivation, Sibling rivalry, Peer influence, Criminal behaviours, Agodi inmates, Nigeria 1. Introduction It is an indisputable fact that crime is on the increase every day, not just in Nigeria but all over the world. There is no disagreement from both the micro and macro levels of studies that the rate of crime in Nigeria has reached an unacceptable level (Fajemirokun, Adewale, Idowu, Oyewusi, & Maiyegun, 2006). The news reports incidents of armed robbery, assassination, and ransom-driven kidnapping, which is spreading like wildfire and spreading a climate of fears and anxieties about public safety. This occurrence of crime for decades can be traceable to poverty, family deprivations, poor parental upbringing, and greed among the youth; a get-rich-quick mentality, and an inadequate crime control model of national security, among others. Crime and criminal behavior are concepts that are difficult to separate, as they go hand in hand. Criminal behavior implies that a crime has been committed. Criminal behavior could be described as behavior that breaks a set of rules that govern society. It is regarded as anti-social and goes against the norms of the prevailing society. Such behavior could be an imitation of learned behavior through social contact and associations. Criminal behavior is used to describe offending adults, while delinquent behavior is the term used to describe offenses committed by adolescents. The definition of criminal behavior is limited because it only makes an inference from offenses that are detected by the criminal justice system. Sutherland (1939) defines criminal behavior as behavior, which violates criminal law. No matter what the degree of immorality, reprehensibility, or indecency of an act, it is not a crime unless it is prohibited by criminal law. Sutherland (1939) further mentions seven attributes of a crime. a) Before a behavior can be called a crime, there must be certain external consequences or harm. Crime harms social interest. b) The external consequences or harm shall be strictly forbidden. Anti-social behavior is not a crime unless forbidden by law. c) There must be an intention. d) Mens rea (a guilty mind) must be present. www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 126 Published by SCHOLINK INC. e) There must be a fusion or concurrence of mens rea and intention. f) There must be a causal relationship between the legally forbidden harm and the misconduct. g) There must be a legally prescribed punishment. According to the Business dictionary (2016), a crime is a harmful act or omission against the public that the State wishes to prevent and which, upon conviction, is punishable by fine, imprisonment, and death. No conduct constitutes a crime unless it is declared criminal in the laws of the country. Some crimes (such as theft or criminal damage) may also be civil wrongs (torts) for which the victim(s) may claim damages in compensation. Fink (1938) opined that before an act can be legally defined as a crime, at least theoretically, five conditions must be met: i. An act must take place that involves harm inflicted on someone by the actor; ii. the act must be legally prohibited at the time it is committed; iii. the perpetrator must have criminal intent (mens-rea) when he engages in the act; iv. there must be a causal relationship between the voluntary misconduct and the harm that results from it; and: v. There must be some legally prescribed punishment for anyone convicted of the act. Iain (2007), while recommending prevention before punishment opined that it is right that a Government should seek to protect its citizens as its priority. However, the current emphasis on reforming legislation and increasing penalties for offenders will do little to stop the next generation of prisoners and unlock the cycle of deprivation, which so many young people are trapped in unless it is backed up by an attempt to tackle the underlying drivers of crime. He thinks that the Government has got the balance wrong; all its energies are directed at punishing those whose lives are products of a fractured society without tackling the causes of crime in a holistic way. As the government continued to fail in delivering its promises to the citizens and instead engaged in corrupt practices such as; money looting etc. individuals decided to pursue their aspirations in illegal ways. There is hardly an individual who does not exhibit criminal behavior in one way or the other. Criminal behavior can be seen in almost every sector of our society. Public officers ask for a bribe before they perform their duties, law enforcement agents require bribes from law offenders, the public nurse asks for a bribe before showing a patient a bed space, accountants help adjust the books or steal and change figures, workers engage in fraud, even the family is not left out. When a woman wants to ask for money for school fees or some other need, she doubles the price so she can keep the extra, the child increases the price he needs for school, and the husband lies about his salary. The circle of crime keeps on growing. Almost everyone engages in budget padding. Youths engage in cybercrime, kidnapping, robbery, etc. Criminal behavior is any behavior or act that violates criminal law, whereas a crime is a particular action representing such behavior (Kamaluddin, Shariff, Othman, Ismail, & Ayu, 2015). “It is not itself, or criminality that is innate; it is certain peculiarities of the central and autonomic nervous system that react with the environment, with upbringing, and many other environmental factors to increase the www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 127 Published by SCHOLINK INC. probability that a given person would act in a certain antisocial manner” (Eysenck & Gudjonsson, 1989; Bartol & Bartol, 2005). The impact of the interaction of these factors has been found in a few studies; however, this remains an area that requires more research. It can also be noted that with the varying rise and patterns of criminal behavior so also the varying patterns of family structure and relationships today. No single factor can be said to be responsible for criminal behavior. There are a lot of factors that could influence criminal behavior, such as family-related factors, peer influence, etc. Families serve as one of the strongest socializing networks. They play an important role in the socialization of the child and serve as the fundamental building block of society. Families help teach children to control unacceptable behavior, delay gratification, and respect the rights of others. In the same way, families can also teach children aggressive, anti-social, and violent behavior. In adults’ lives, family responsibilities may provide an important stabilizing force. Given these possibilities, family life may directly contribute to the development of delinquent and criminal tendencies. The family type of individual can influence criminality. Most researchers have been able to establish a correlation between family type, size, environmental factors, and criminality. In a research carried out by Madhurima (2009) on the offenders in the state of Punjab, it was found that a majority of them (57.5%) live in a nuclear family, and 36.5% of the offenders live in joint or extended families. Another study by Pandey and Singh (2006) found results consistent with that of Madhurima, with 69.70% of offenders identified as being from a nuclear family. The research indicates a rather equitable distribution between joint and nuclear families. Scholarly evidence (such as research carried out by Heritage scholars on the real root causes of violent crime) suggests that at the heart of the explosion of crime in America is the loss of the capacity of fathers and mothers to be responsible for caring for the children they bring into the world (Fagan, 1995). This statement also applies to Nigeria because family dynamics are the same everywhere. This loss of love and guidance at the intimate levels of marriage and family has broad social consequences for children and the wider community. Research by Heritage scholars also shows that too many young men and women from broken families tend to have a much weaker sense of connection with their neighborhood and are prone to exploit its members to satisfy their unmet needs or desires. This contributes to a loss of a sense of community and the disintegration of neighborhoods into social chaos and violent crime. When a child is deprived in childhood of parental care, control, love, education, and other basic needs, there is the tendency for that child to seek love, care, etc. through other means, which may lead to engaging in crime. There is overwhelming evidence from professional literature revealing that teenage criminal behavior has its root in the habitual deprivation of parental love and affection going back to early infancy (White, Moffitt, Earl, & Robins, 1990). When young people have experienced a chaotic, disintegrating family life growing up, which they projected through aggression and hostility to others outside the family, they tend to continue with aggressive and hostile behavior which can grow into www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 128 Published by SCHOLINK INC. criminal behavior. Most young people suffering from parental deprivation are not withdrawn or depressed. Rather the opposite is the case: they are actively involved in activities in their environment but in a violent manner. This hostility is usually established in the early years of life. By age six, habits of aggression and free-floating anger typically are already formed. In contrast, normal children enjoy a sense of personal security derived from their natural attachment to their mothers. The future criminal is often denied this natural attachment. The parenting style employed by parents in raising their children goes a long way in determining the future behavior of the child. The child is evidence of the parenting style of the parents. Where parents employ appropriate disciplinary measures, the child is less likely to engage in criminal acts that may lead to criminal behavior while the use of harsh, punitive punishments may harden and toughen the child and eventually push the child to engage in criminal acts that may lead to criminal behavior. Broken homes create an environment that predisposes children to criminal activities. Broken homes are characterized by absent fathers’ and mothers’ who are unable or unwilling to provide necessary affection, fighting and domestic violence, inadequate child supervision, discipline, and mistreatment of children. All these factors contribute to criminal activity. Children from broken homes also tend to have negative experiences in their neighborhood, such as; rejection from other children and even adults who look at them as apples that cannot fall far from the tree. These children tend to struggle in school and participate in gangs; all these experiences further encourage their participation in criminal activities (Fagan, 1995). As the child faces all these negative experiences, a major determining factor that influences negative behavior is the lack of dedication and the atmosphere of rejection or conflict within the family, which diminishes the child’s experience of his personal life as one of love, dedication, and a place to belong. Instead, it is characterized increasingly by rejection, abandonment, conflict, isolation, and even abuse. The child with a desire to have a place of belonging finds others who have experienced similar rejection and adopt them as a family. These new “families” not having caring adults then carve out their form of acceptance. The child turns to peers who are a major influence on criminal behavior (Fagan, 1995). Peer influence plays a major role in the life of young individuals. During the early stage of a person’s life, especially the teenage years, pleasing one’s peer is thought crucial. Therefore, if a person’s peers are criminally minded, the individual may also engage in criminal acts. It is said that evil communication corrupts good manners. In secondary schools, friends in a clique engage in similar behavior as this is what binds them together. The relationship between parents, not just the relationship between mother and child, has a powerful effect on very young children. Children react to quarreling parents by disobeying, crying, hitting other children, and in general, being much more antisocial than their peers. Another fact to note is that quarreling or abusive parents do not generally vent their anger equally on all their children; instead, www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 129 Published by SCHOLINK INC. they tend to vent their anger on their more difficult children. This parental hostility, and physical and emotional abuse that the child experiences shape the future delinquent according to Cummings (1987). Most people who break laws tend to have been abandoned by their fathers. They were also deprived of love and affection from their mothers. Inconsistent parenting, family issues, and multiple other stresses (such as economic hardship) that flow from these disruption compounds the rejection this set of individuals receive from their parents, many of whom became criminals during childhood. With all these factors working against the child’s normal development, by age five, the future criminal already will tend to be aggressive, hostile, and hyperactive. Four-fifths of children destined to be criminals will be “antisocial” by 11 years of age. (White, Moffitt, Earl, & Robins, 1990). According to the professional literature on juvenile delinquency, Kevin Wright, professor of criminal justice at the State University of New York at Binghamton, writes: “Research confirms that children raised in supportive, affectionate, and accepting homes are less likely to become deviant. Children rejected by parents are among the most likely to become delinquent.” (Wright & Wright, 1992) This rejection and abandonment can cause the child to release his feelings through anti-social or delinquent behavior (Green, 2015). Many characteristics of broken families create conditions for criminal behavior. Some of these include:  Fatherlessness;  Absence of maternal affection;  Parental fighting and domestic violence;  Lack of parental supervision and discipline;  Rejection of the child;  Parental abuse or neglect. A study carried out by Manning and Lamb (2003); Jeynes (2000) revealed that children of single-parent families were far more likely to have academic and behavioral problems in school and were far more likely to become delinquents while children of intact married families are more likely to attend college. Children experiencing problems due to unfavorable family conditions tend to do poorly in school as a result of the inability to concentrate in school, rejection by classmates, and aggressive behavior. If a child breaks the rules in school, he/she is punished and might be given work to do, which further takes him/her away from school work. The child angry at what he/she may perceive as unfair treatment continues to display aggressive behavior and breaks the rules, which leads to continued punishment. All these affect the child academically, emotionally, and socially, and reduce the child’s chance of advancing his/her education. The child, therefore, may continue to resort to criminal behaviors first as a way of crying out, rebelling, getting his or her needs met, and later on, as a habit. While children from single-parent homes can certainly have strong attachments with the custodial parent, some research has suggested that having a second parent in the household is still important in reducing delinquency. For example, Rankin and Kern (1994) found that children who are strongly attached to both parents have a lower probability of self-reported delinquency than children who are www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 130 Published by SCHOLINK INC. strongly attached to only one parent. Furthermore, even children living in single-parent homes who are strongly attached to the custodial parent generally have a greater probability of committing delinquent acts than children living in intact homes who are strongly attached to both parents (Rankin & Kern, 1994). In addition to parental attachment or closeness, social bonds with parents have also been measured with terms such as parental monitoring, supervision, and involvement. Their meta-analysis of 161 published and unpublished manuscripts determined that the strongest links connecting this relationship were parental monitoring, psychological control, and negative aspects of support (Hoeve, Dubas, Eichelsheim, Laan, Smeenk, & Gerris, 2009). Sibling rivalry occurs when a type of competition or animosity exists among siblings. This rivalry can be caused by preferential treatment by parents and perhaps, family members, jealousy, etc. sibling rivalry can progress to sibling conflict and violence. The perpetrator of sibling violence socializes the victim to violence, and the victim may come to regard violence as normal behavior (Criminal Justice Research). When individuals have been exposed to sibling rivalry, and in turn sibling violence while growing up, they take such behavior with them when associating with other people. Individuals who see their siblings as rivals and who are violent to their siblings will tend to see others in society who display behaviors’ or have characteristics similar to that of the sibling they dislike as rivals too and may be violent towards them. Those violent with their siblings will also be violent to others since they have learned violent behavior. Many factors could serve as correlates of criminal behavior as some could view criminal behavior as a learned behavior, but for this study, family type, sibling rivalry, broken home, childhood deprivations, single parenting, parenting style, and peer influence are investigated as correlates of criminal behavior. 2. Research Questions 1) What is the pattern of relationship between the independent variables (Family type, Sibling rivalry, Broken home, Childhood deprivation, Single parenting, Parenting style, and Peer influence) and the dependent variable (Criminal behavior among Agodi Inmates, Nigeria)? 2) What is the joint influence of the independent variables (Family type, Sibling rivalry, Broken home, Childhood deprivation, Single parenting, Parenting style, and Peer influence) on the dependent variable (Criminal behavior among Agodi Inmates, Nigeria)? 3) What is the relative contribution of the independent variables (Family type, Sibling rivalry, Broken home, Childhood deprivation, Single parenting, Parenting style, and Peer influence) on the dependent variable (Criminal behavior among Agodi Inmates, Nigeria)? www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 131 Published by SCHOLINK INC. 3. Methodology The study adopted the descriptive survey research design, which draws inference from selected sampled portions of the population. This also involves using empirical statistical tools to analyze information and data collected from the field to explain events and circumstances as they occur. The population of this study consists of all inmates, both Awaiting Trial and Convicted inmates of the Agodi custodial centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Two Hundred inmates of the Agodi custodial centre were used for the study using Simple Random Sampling. The instrument used to collect data for this study contained seven scales. These include: Crime Behaviour Scale developed by Knight, Garner, Simpson, Morey, and Flynn (2006) which was adapted by the researcher for the data collection on inmates’ criminal behaviour, Single Parenting Scale developed by the researcher, broken home scale, peer influence scale developed by Rigby and Slee (1993), sibling rivalry scale, parenting style scale and childhood deprivation scale. Family type was determined by asking respondents to tick the family type they belonged to from the options provided. This instrument was pilot tested using Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient. The pilot study was carried out using 20 inmates of Agodi Custodial Centre. Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of .555 alpha for the crime behavior scale, .492 for the single parenting scale, .817 for the broken home scale, .581 for the parenting style scale, .751 for sibling rivalry scale, .829 for childhood deprivation scale and .779 for peer influence scale. The researcher obtained a letter of introduction from the Department of Guidance and Counseling for the identification which was presented at the prison. The researcher administered the instruments to the inmates of Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria, directly alongside a research assistant from the prison who gave guidance to the researcher and respondents. Data analysis was carried out using the descriptive research design of correlational a with test significance of variables at 0.05 level of significance. 4. Results Research Question 1: What is the pattern of relationship between the independent variables (Family type, Sibling rivalry, Broken home, Childhood deprivation, Single parenting, Parenting style, and Peer influence) and the dependent variable (Criminal behavior among Agodi Inmates, Nigeria)? The result is presented in Table 1. www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 132 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Table 1. Descriptive Statistics and Matrix Table Showing the Pattern of Relationship among the Variables SN Variables Mean SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dependent Variable Criminal Behaviour 52.1 12.4 1 1 Family type 1.39 .494 .642** 1 2 Sibling Rivalry 2.08 .735 .122** .017 1 3 Broken home 1.35 .598 .595** .126 .119 1 4 Childhood deprivation 1.46 .678 .551** .148 .395 .226 1 5 Single Parenthood 79.75 16.9 .560** .064 .063 .029 .153 1 6 Parenting style 70.36 15.8 .547** .056 .063 .022 .113 .700 1 7 Peer influence 79.55 18.1 .628** .003 .035 .075 .171 .524 .742 **Variable is significant at 0.05 level. The table displays the mean and standard deviation for all the variables and also shows that all the independent variables (Family type, Sibling rivalry, Broken home, Childhood deprivation, Single parenting, Parenting style, and Peer influence) are positively correlated with the dependent variable (Criminal behavior). In the order of magnitude, Family type ranked the highest (r=0.642**; p<.05); followed by Peer influence (r=0.628**; p<.05); Broken home (r=0.595**; p<.05); Single parenthood (r=0.560**; p<.05); Childhood deprivation (r=0.551**; p<.05); Parenting style (r=0.547**; p<.05); and lastly, Sibling rivalry (r=0.122**; p<.05). This means that variables highly influence criminal behaviours of the inmates in this study. The highest correlate of Criminal behavior is Family type. Research Question 2: What is the joint influence of the independent variables (Family type, Sibling rivalry, Broken home, Childhood deprivation, Single parenting, Parenting style, and Peer influence) on the dependent variable (Criminal behavior among Agodi Inmates, Nigeria)? The result is presented in Table 2. www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 133 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Table 2. Multiple Regression Table Showing the Joint Correlation of the Independent Variables (Family Type, Sibling Rivalry, Broken Home, Childhood Deprivation, Single Parenting, Parenting Style, and Peer Influence) to Criminal Behavior. Multiple R = .807 Multiple R2=.651 Multiple R2(Adjusted) = .646 Standard Error Estimate = 7.39 ANOVA Source of Variation Df Sum of Square Mean Square F Ratio P Regression 6 62724.063 6969.34 127.78 .000 Residual 244 33598.507 54.54 The result in Table 2 shows that all the seven independent variables jointly yielded a coefficient of Multiple regression (R)=0.807, and a multiple correlation square (R2)=0.651, and finally an adjusted multiple correlation square (Adj. R2)=0.646, which means that the seven independent variables jointly contribute a total of 64.6% to the total variance of the criterion variable. The Analysis of variance also shows a significant relationship of the independent variables to the dependent variable (F (6,616)=127.78; P<0.05). This shows that all the independent variables jointly contribute significantly to the incidence of criminal behavior among inmates in the Agodi Custodial Centre. Any increase in the incidence of any of the variables will produce an automatic increase in criminal behaviour among the inmates. Research Question 3: What is the relative contribution of the independent variables (Family type, Sibling rivalry, Broken home, Childhood deprivation, Single parenting, Parenting style, and Peer influence) on the dependent variable (Criminal behavior among Agodi Inmates, Nigeria)? The result is presented in Table 3 below: www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 134 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Table 3. Relative Contributions of the Independent Variables to the Prediction of Criminal Behaviour Predictor Unstandardized Coefficient Standard Error Standardized Coefficient B Beta T-Ratio P Constant 9.208 2.126 4.360 <.05 Family type .144 .613 0.246 6.910 <.05 Sibling rivalry 1.344 .445 0.080 3.019 <.05 Broken home .861 .514 0.241 3.677 >.05 Childhood deprivation .414 .504 0.221 3.822 <.05 Single parenthood .173 .026 0.235 3.651 <.05 Parenting style .153 .035 0.189 4.370 <.05 Peer influence 2.89 .032 0.242 7.235 <.05 Table 3 shows the contribution of each independent variable to the prediction of criminal behavior. The Beta weight determines the level of contribution of each variable to the criminal behavior of the inmates. The result shows that Family type contributed the highest with a Beta weight of 0.242 to Criminal behavior, while Sibling rivalry has the lowest contribution with a Beta weight of 0.080. Arranged in the order of magnitude, the result is as follows: Family type (β=0.246, t=6.910; P<0.05); Peer influence (β=0.242, t=7.235; P<0.05); Broken home (β=0.241, t=3.677; P<0.05); Single parenthood (β=0.235, t=3.651; P<0.05); Childhood deprivation (β=0.221, t=3.822; Parenting style (β=0.189, t=0.1.4.370; P<0.05); and finally, Sibling rivalry (β=0.080, t=3.019; P<0.05). This shows that all the independent variables contributed to the criterion measure (Criminal behavior), no matter how small. 5. Discussion This research has found that family type is a significant factor in determining criminal behavior. In particular, the study suggests that parental neglect and laissez-faire attitudes towards childrearing can lead to criminal behavior, particularly in polygamous families where the mother may struggle to care for the children and ultimately leave them to their own devices and the influence of their peers. Previous research has also indicated that the family structure a child is exposed to and the relationships they have with their parents can affect their risk of delinquent behavior, with youth from cohabitating and blended households, single-parent families, and two-parent families all showing higher rates of delinquency. The social environment in which a child grows up can also have a significant impact on www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 135 Published by SCHOLINK INC. their well-being. Children who had negative sibling relationships were found to have high levels of anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, and school adjustment (Dunn, Slomkowski, Beardsall, & Rende, 1994). Also, conflict within the sibling relationship in early adulthood was associated with poor psychological adjustment, whereas supportive relationships were linked with decreased anxiety and greater maturity (Stocker, Lanthier, & Furman, 1997). A study by researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health found that only 6% of children from stable, safe homes became delinquent, while 18% of children from unstable or unsafe homes (such as those with a broken marriage or lack of supervision) became delinquent, and 90% of children from both unstable and unsafe homes became delinquent. Americans for Divorce Reform examined 23 studies that considered the relationship between family structure and crime or delinquency, and 20 of these studies concluded that family structure does affect crime or delinquency. Eight of the studies found that children from single-parent or non-intact family structures were more likely to commit criminal or delinquent acts, and other studies found that changes in family structure were also associated with an increase in crime rates. The Cambridge-Somerville study in Boston found that poor parental supervision in childhood was the best predictor of both violent and property offending up to age 45. Peer influence is a social phenomenon. The result of this study reveals that individuals are influenced by their peers. Many children get spoilt from their interactions with their peers. This buttresses the slogans such as “Evil communication corrupts good manners,” “Show me your friends and I will tell you the kind of a person you are” and “Association often determines the destination.” Peer influence, therefore, has a very strong affiliation with Criminal behavior. It is a factor notably featured among children and adolescents. Peer influence has a relationship to criminal behavior as this study has discovered. Childs, Sullivan, and Gulledge (2011) found that peer substance use had a significant positive effect on adolescent substance use, with a one-unit increase in peer substance use predicting a 13.4% increase in the expected frequency of adolescent substance use. They also found that peer delinquency significantly predicted adolescent delinquency. One unit of increase in peer delinquency was found to lead to a 5.1% increase in the expected count of adolescent delinquent behavior. Pardini, Loeber, and Stouthamer-Loeber (2005) found that higher levels of deviant peer association predict later increases in pro-delinquency beliefs. There is an abundance of research that examines the impact of family structure on delinquency (Amato & Keith, 1991; leiber & Kunz, 2003; Rankin, 1983). The majority of research finds that youth from broken homes report increased levels of delinquency. For example, in a longitudinal survey of 411 males living in South London, Juby and Farrington (2001) found that delinquency rates were higher among 75 boys who were living in non-intact homes compared to boys living in intact families. Also, Price and Kunz (2003) conducted a meta-analysis involving 72 studies that involved divorce and juvenile delinquency. The results indicated that children from divorced homes have higher rates of delinquency (status offenses, crimes against a person, felony theft, general delinquency, tobacco, and drug use) compared to children from intact homes, except for alcohol use. Many studies examining the www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 136 Published by SCHOLINK INC. singular relationship between single-parent families and delinquency have found a positive relationship (Gibson, 1969; Rutter, 1971; Wilkinson, 1980; Canter, 1982; Rankin, 1983; Matsueda & Heimer, 1987; LeFlore, 1988). Other studies have identified more specific breakdowns. For example, Gove and Crutchfield (1982) found a positive relationship to be true for males but not for females. Rosen (1985) observed a positive association between single-parent households and delinquency for male children in black families. Brady, James, and Linda (1986), testing in a clinical setting, found that the children of single-parent families exhibited more behavioral problems. In a study by Demuth and Brown (2004), it was found that adolescents in single-parent families were significantly more delinquent than their counterparts residing with two biological, married parents. McCord found that children who are brought up in families where they are closely supervised and have interaction are less likely to turn into criminals as adults (Kierkuss, 2009). An authoritarian parent is likely to produce a lot of vagabonds who are always on the opposition side. They engage in a lot of protests, wanton destruction of lives and properties, etc. Practicing good parenting and closely supervising an adolescent can influence the adolescent not to participate in crime throughout adulthood (Kierkus, 2009). Parental monitoring, supervision, involvement, and attachment appear to be especially important in the case of an adolescent participating in crime and delinquency (McCord, 1991). The result obtained in this study is in line with the view of those who see crime as deeply rooted in social conditions and argue that crime is closely connected to deprivation. According to them, the relatively deprived are prone to having feelings of anger and hostility, which lead to criminal behavior. Any child that is deprived of any of the essential basics of life, such as food, shelter, security, etc. is likely to manifest a lot of maladjustments in the future. Concerning parental involvement, some studies show that more time spent with parents leads to less participation in crime and delinquency (Keijsers, Branje, VanderValk, & Meeus 2010). The more leisure time that an adolescent spends with parents, the less likely the adolescent is to deviate. If an adolescent spends more time away from his parents, he is more likely to disclose information from authority figures and keep things from his parents (Keijsers, Branje, VanderValk, & Meeus, 2010). DeGenova and Rice (2002) said parents’ affirmations of their adoration, love, value, approval, and acceptance of their children were among the most important contributions they could make to the children’s development. Such affirmation gives children healthy self-esteem and self-acceptance. DeGenova and Rice also pointed out that among children in environments where anger and conflict exist, there were greater risks of behavioral and emotional problems. 6. Conclusion This study found that certain factors, including family type, sibling rivalry, a broken home, childhood deprivation, single parenting, parenting style, and peer influence, may contribute to criminal behavior. It also emphasized the need for society, including the government, families, and organizations, to www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/fet Frontiers in Education Technology Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023 137 Published by SCHOLINK INC. address the problem of crime by finding solutions and promoting re-education about criminal behavior and its causes and effects. However, the study had limited access to information and participants, particularly female inmates, and the number of participants was also limited due to expenses and accessibility. Future research could explore other factors that may be related to criminal behavior and examine the potential for a codependent relationship between criminal behavior and these variables. It could also involve a larger sample size. 7. Recommendation Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that: Parents should adopt a discipline-based parenting style that promotes a positive relationship with their children and raises children who will be beneficial to society. They should create a supportive environment for their children and seek counseling if they notice any concerning behaviors or persistent sibling rivalry. It is important for parents to also prioritize their marriage and seek the knowledge and skills needed to effectively navigate challenges in family life. In addition, parents should find ways to financially support their family without neglecting their children or relying on caregivers. While polygamy may be a cultural tradition, parents have a responsibility to prioritize their children’s well-being and encourage positive behavior. Educational policymakers should ensure that schools adopt appropriate disciplinary measures for children. Private organizations should invest more in helping children from deprived homes by catering to their basic needs. Provisions should also be made for children from broken homes to mitigate the negative effect on their well-being. The government should work to create jobs and laws that support and protect families, and recognize the value of counseling in all sectors of society. The deterrence method for dealing with criminals has not effectively reduced crime rates, and instead, the government should focus on strategies to rehabilitate, reform, and remediate inmates in order to prevent recidivism. Counseling psychologists should investigate the root causes of criminal behavior and use counseling techniques to address these issues. 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