Comparison Of Broken Windows Theory And Attachment Theory

Abstract
This paper will discuss two theories that describe how conduct disorder develops and two treatments for the disorder. These two theories are broken windows theory and attachment theory. Broken windows theory primary focus is on the environment that an individual is raised in. If the environment is run-down and flourished with crime, it’s likely an individual raised in that environment will be influenced to commit crime. Attachment theory essentially states that if an individual has strong attachment with their caregiver, they will be less motivated in committing crime and less likely to have behavioral problems. The disorder can be treated by
Childhood is primarily seen as a period of time that is sentimental; a time of innocence

and purity where a child’s main responsibility is to enjoy life and grow as an individual. Unfortunately, this tends not to be the case for some children. Bullying is a nationwide issue that can come in four different forms: physical, verbal, relational/social and cyber bullying. The bully feels pleasure from humiliating their victims and gains a sense of power and authority from it. The bully may make fun of their victim for being an outcast and may say things like “no one likes you, you’re unloved, and you’re a loser” etc. However, the bully may be the one feeling insecure and unloved. If the harmful behaviors persistent, the child may suffer from conduct disorder. Conduct disorder appears to occur equally among cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. It’s also more commonly seen in males than in females (Theodore, 2017).
According to the DSM-5, conduct disorder has three components to it. Component A is concerned with the violation of norms, rules and regulations while component B is concerned with the individuals functioning. The disturbance in the behavior must cause significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. Lastly, component C states that if the individual is age 18 years or older, criteria are not met for antisocial personality disorder (APA, 2013). Component A has four categories with fifteen criterions attached to it. In order to be diagnosed with conduct disorder, at least three of the 15 criteria must have occurred in the past twelve months from any of the four categories’, with at least one criterion being present in the past 6 months (APA, 2013). The four categories of conduct disorder are aggression to people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft and serious violations of rules. Each category has at least two or more criterions. The aggression to people and animals category has seven criterions: the individual often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others, often initiates physical fights, has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others, has been physically cruel to people, has been physically cruel to animals, has stolen while confronting a victim and has forced someone into sexual activity. These criterions are usually shown in the typical school yard bully with tormenting others and stealing others lunch money etc. The destruction of property category has two criterions: the individual has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage and has deliberately destroyed others’ property (other than by fire setting). (APA, 2013). The next category, deceitfulness or theft has three criterions attached: the individual has broken into someone else’s house, building, or car, often lies to obtain goods or favors or to avoid obligations, and has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting a victim. The last category, serious violations of rules has three criterions: often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before age 13 years, has run away from home overnight at least twice while living in the parental or parental surrogate home, or once without returning for a lengthy period and is often truant from school, beginning before age 13 years (APA, 2013).
Conduct disorder has three levels of severity: mild, moderate and severe. According to the DSM-5, the mild level of severity has few, if any conduct problems in excess of those required to make the diagnosis are present, and conduct problems cause relatively minor harm to others (APA, 2013). For instance, if a child lies, stay’s out past curfew and breaks rules it will be considered mild severity. With moderate severity, the number of conduct problems and the effect on others are intermediate between those specified in “mild” and those in “severe” (APA, 2013). Examples of moderate severe actions would be spray painting a building, stealing from someone without them noticing, etc. Lastly, individuals with the “severe” level of severity have many conduct problems in excess of those required to make the diagnosis are present, or conduct problems cause considerable harm to others. Examples include: rape, physical harm, mugging, breaking and entering, using a weapon etc. (APA, 2013).
There are three types of onsets of conduct disorder. These are childhood- onset, adolescent-onset and unspecified onset. These onsets not only determine the age range a child will be affected but how they will act as well. Each onset also has different ratios of who is affected more, male or females. The DSM-5 states that with childhood-onset type, the child must show at least one symptom characteristic of conduct disorder prior to age 10 (APA, 2013). According to Lea A. Theodore, “individuals who meet the criteria for childhood-onset conduct disorder are typically male, demonstrate physical aggression toward others, and have disturbed peer relationships” (Theodore, 2017). Individuals with adolescent-onset type show no symptom characteristics of conduct disorder prior to ten years old (APA, 2013). This means that beginning in adolescence, the individual begins to exhibit signs of conduct disorder. Unlike childhood-onset, during adolescent-onset the ratio between males and females with conduct disorder is more equivalent. Compared with childhood-onset, those with adolescent-onset are less likely to have the disorder continue into adulthood and are less likely to display aggressive behaviors. They also have more of a normal relationship with peers; however still display problems of conduct in front of them (Theodore, 2017). With unspecified- onset, criteria for a diagnosis of conduct disorder are met, but there is not enough information available to determine whether the onset of the first symptom was before or after age 10 years (APA, 2013). Since the date of onset is unknown, the individual cannot be categorized as childhood or adolescent onset, hence having its own category.
As previously mentioned, conduct disorder affects both men and women. Stereotypically, men and women exhibit different behaviors. These behaviors are categorized as covert and overt behaviors. Overt behaviors are stereotypically found in men, these behaviors tend to directly impact others. For instance, starting physical altercations, stealing from others, vandalism, setting fires, killing animals etc. (Kress & Paylo, 2015). On the other hand, covert behaviors are less confrontational than overt behaviors and are stereotypically found in women. Such behaviors include lying, cheating, threatening others, verbal arguments, truancy, power struggles and shop listing (Kress & Paylo, 2015). It must be noted that these are just stereotypical behaviors. Women are capable in displaying overt behaviors and men are capable of displaying covert behaviors.
Children do not just develop antisocial behaviors out of the blue; these behaviors are built upon environmental risk factors.

Such factors that could increase the chances of conduct disorder include parental socioeconomic status, low academic achievement, poor neighborhoods, attachment styles between caregiver and the child, parenting style, and educational background. A qualitative study conducted by Morgan, Li and Cook analyzed a sample of 7,456 children whose ages ranged from Kindergarten level to middle school level. The researchers were specially studying kids who came from a low SES household, were raised by mothers with depressive symptoms or who are experiencing emotional problems or substance abuse, or those who are punished by corporal punishment (Morgan et al., 2016). The researchers discovered that socioeconomic status plays a strong and consistent factor in conduct disorder symptomology. Therefore, children who come from a low socioeconomic background are more likely to suffer from conduct disorder. Broken windows theory supports this notion. It was also discovered that being raised by a single mother who suffers from depressive symptoms or emotional problems or substance abuse also increases the risk of develop of conduct disorder. Children who reported to have been spanked as a form of punishment were also at higher risk for symptoms associated with conduct disorder (Morgan et al., 2016). These represent findings that attachment theory

supports.
Broken windows theory is concerned with the quality of a neighborhood that an individual is brought up in. If the neighborhood shows viable signs of disorder such as broken windows, graffiti, litter or rundown buildings, it will influence disorderly behavior (Churruca, 2018).