ABSTRACT
Two consistent findings have emerged from longitudinal studies, such as those reviewed in the previous chapter. Firstly, there is the simple fact that crime appears to run in families. Secondly, there is the continuity in antisocial behaviour between childhood and adulthood witnessed in the more seriously antisocial individuals. This chapter reviews evidence about family background which might be exerting an influence over people’s lives, looking in particular at questions of ‘family structure’, or parenting practices. The evidence that abuse and neglect are clearly related to various poor outcomes for the children involved is now very strong. In addition, this chapter argues that there is gathering evidence that the emotional atmosphere in which people are raised can have long-lasting impacts on their capacity to process and cope with strong feelings later in life. Feelings of guilt and shame emerge as important factors in understanding criminality and violence in particular – but these need to be understood within a nuanced psychosocial frame.
