Please no plagiarism and make sure you are able to access all resource on your own before you bid. One of the references must come from Broderick and Blewitt (2015). Respond to your colleagues using one or more of the following approaches:
· Offer and support an additional factor that might have contributed to the immoral behaviors discussed by a colleague.
· Expand on a colleague's posting to describe how the described immoral behaviors might impact the future of the participating individual(s) and others.
· Suggest additional interventions as appropriate. Support your suggestions with references to this week's Learning Resources and the current literature.
1. (A. Wit)
Most people would agree that an individual's morals, values, beliefs, and behaviors help define character. From a developmental perspective, are morals inherent or learned?
What makes someone do "bad" things? This post will highlight the recent case of a juvenile sex offender. The post will include developmental factors that may have influenced this young man and potential treatment interventions.
Description of event and immoral behavior
Earlier this month on December 3rd, 2017, a teenager confessed to child molestation (CBS News, 2017). Joseph Hayden Boston, 18 years-old, told police that he had molested as many as 50 children since he was ten years old (CBS, 2017).
According to reports, Boston would befriend children before sexually abusing them. I was surprised to find little research on children or adolescents who are the perpetrators of sexual abuse.
According to McKibbin, Humphrey, and Hamilton (2017), few studies measure the prevalence and incidence of children and youth who abuse other children. There is some research that associates child perpetrators with increased exposure to trauma and pornography (McKibbin, Humphrey, & Hamilton 2017).
Factors contributing to immoral behavior
As humans, how do we develop a sense of right and wrong? When and how does our morality develop? Can good morals be taught or do they develop naturally?
Research has shown that moral development is likely a combination of learned values combined with child development (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Morality is a blend of emotions, cognitions, and behaviors (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015).
Moral development in children can be influenced by the emerging conscious, changes in logical thinking, emotions such as empathy and sympathy, needs-based reasoning, personality characteristics, parenting style, temperament, and environmental factors. For this post, I will focus on a few factors that may contribute to immoral behavior in children and adolescents.
In the case of Joseph Boston, the immoral behavior may stem from a pathway of anti-social behavior, physiological or neurological traits, poverty, parental substance abuse, poor educational opportunities, or multiple residential moves (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). The news article provides little information on which of these factors may have led to the immoral behavior of Boston. An interesting observation is that Boston was willing to confess to his crimes at age 18.
Some research shows that juvenile sex offenders show the highest rates of abuse during adolescence, with incidents declining as they enter early adulthood (Van Den Berg , Bijleveld , & Hendriks , 2015). One reason for this decline may be the increased responsibilities of employment, marriage, or parenting (Van Den Berg , Bijleveld , & Hendriks , 2015).
Interventions
Interventions for immoral behavior should be multidimensional, incorporating the offender, family, peers, and educators (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Psychotherapy for the individual and the family should be intensive (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Cognitive behavioral techniques are one suggested intervention.
Given that life-cycle transitions seem to be an opportunity for change (Van Den Berg , Bijleveld , & Hendriks , 2015), I would recommend that Boston's treatment include issues like employment and adult relationships.
Research has found a reduction in male sex offenses is associated with stable employment (Van Den Berg , Bijleveld , & Hendriks , 2015). Studies have also found that marriage promoted a reduction in serious sex offense (Van Den Berg , Bijleveld , & Hendriks , 2015).
Summary
The child molestation case of Joseph Boston is just one of many examples of immoral behavior. Although I do not recommend that finding a wife should be part of Boston's treatment plan, I do think that a focus on early adulthood transitioning could be beneficial (Van Den Berg , Bijleveld , & Hendriks , 2015).
A counselor would also benefit by examining the biological, environmental, and parental influences that lead up to the sexual offenses (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Moral and immoral behavior is best viewed from a multidimensional perspective.
References
Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education