Girls and Violence: Tracing the Roots of Criminal Behavior (Qualitative Studies in Crime and Justice)

Seeking to better understand the processes that push teenage girls to acts of criminal violence, Judith Ryder explores the relationship between disrupted emotional bonds and violent delinquency. Ryder draws on intimate interviews to show how teenage girls navigate experiences of abuse, emotional loss, and parental abandonment, revealing how their violent acts become a means of connecting with others--however maladaptive and misplaced those connections may be. Her work suggests viable strategies for early intervention to keep at-risk young women out of the criminal justice system. This book explores the relationship between disrupted emotional bonds and exposure to violence that can push adolescent girls towards acts of criminal violence. The author uses the results of interviews with 24 girls to identify categories of loss and violence with which to explore how young girls can be pushed towards criminal violence. The introductory chapter of the book discusses the problem of adolescent girls and violence, while the second chapter contains a model for exploring the "black box" between experiences of loss, victimization, and other traumatic experiences in childhood, and violent behaviors in adolescence. The third chapter contains the personal stories for the 24 girls interviewed for the study, while chapters 4 and 5 present the numerous and varied traumatic events that the girls experienced before the age of 11. The sixth chapter discusses the various means that the girls employed in their attempts to cope with the effects of loss, victimization, and violence, while chapter 7 examines the different offenses for which the girls were most recently adjudicated and remanded to custody. Throughout the book, the author focuses on the concept that lack of and/or disruption of attachments has led these girls into a cycle of criminal violence. In the final chapter of the book, the author argues that policymakers, practitioners, community leaders, and researchers should consider an attachment-based framework for understanding youth violence. Bibliography and index Seeking To Better Understand The Processes That Push Teenage Girls To Acts Of Criminal Violence, Judith Ryder Explores The Relationship Between Childhood Victimization And Adolescent Delinquency. Ryder Draws On Intimate Interviews To Show How Teenage Girls Navigate Experiences Of Physical Abuse, Emotional Loss, And Parental Abandonment, Revealing How Their Violent Acts Become A Means Of Connecting With Others However Maladaptive And Misplaced Those Connections May Be. Her Work Suggests Viable Strategies For Early Intervention To Keep At-risk Young Women Out Of The Criminal Justice System. Girls And Violence -- Understanding Attachment Gone Wrong -- The First Relationship: Parental Bonds -- Traumatic Childhood Experiences Of Loss -- Traumatic Childhood Experiences Of Violence -- Coping Strategies: Running, Drugging, And Self-harm -- Illegal Acts: I Don't Know If You Consider That Violence. -- Rethinking Violence And Delinquency. Judith A. Ryder. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.