Some Deeper Causes of Vandalism

Let us examine more closely why some youngsters engage in vandalism.  Many adolescents are confused and  "describe the world as a mixed - up crazy place, filled with crazy people."  Nonetheless, and contrary to what some believe, one report said: "Teenagers do worry about the direction of their lives.  They care more than adults think they do."  Unwittingly or not, a youth involved in vandalism may in this way be expressing his deep-seated frustrations, unresolved problems, or unfulfilled needs.(still no excuse!)  According to the study mentioned at the outset, "not one of [the] respondents defenced or justified vandalism, not even those who [had] engaged in it."

A youth may seldom hear a word of appreciation or encouragement.  Since education is increasingly important and more jobs require a high degree of specialized knowledge or technical skill, he or she may feel intimidated.  Moreover, parents, teachers or peers may be very critical and demanding, putting the emphasis on what the youth achieves and not on what he or she is as a person.  Many a rebel or vandalize simply because they are disappointed with themselves.  Would not the love and attention of parents greatly reduce such distress?

You may have seen that while certain authorities have seemingly given up on trying to control graffiti and other kinds of delinquency, concerned citizens in general still look to teachers and school personnel to control vandalism.  Regarding law enforcement,  The World Book Encyclopedia says:  "Vandalism is punishable by fine or imprisonment.  Some local governments have laws that hold parents responsible for vandalism committed by their children.  But most  acts of vandalism are not punished.  Law enforcement is difficult in such cases, and he cost of most individual acts of damage is not large enough to make legal action worthwhile."  One report showed that only 3 percent of offenders were ever caught. 

You likely will agree that adequate parenting may be the best way to attack a root cause of delinquency.  But when family life deteriorates, communities suffer.  Professor Ana Luisa Vieira de Mattos, of Sao Paulo University, Brazil,  notes  that some of the reasons for problems with young people are "weak parental supervision, lack of rules, lack of communication, neglect, indifference or apathy."

In our time we certainly have seen a fulfillment of Jesus' words:  "Because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off."  (Matthew 24:12)  And who will deny that the words recorded at 2 Timothy 3A:1-4 are proving true?  The apostle Paul wrote:  "Know this, that in the last days critical times  hard to deal with will be here.  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God."  The fact  is, just living among people with such characteristics contributes to delinquency.  We need not to give up though.  Communities in general have failed to eliminate vandalism, but we can find people who have succeeded in changing their own life-style, no longer being ill-mannered or reckless.  In their cases vandalism has been stopped.

Next time: Sound Guidance for Young People

The Watchtower, 1999