Taiwan Today

Juvenile delinquency is becoming a high-priority social problem. Over the past decade, according to statistics compiled by the Na­tional Police Administration, there has been a steep increase in the number of ju­veniles (aged twelve to eighteen) commit­ting crimes. In 1983, there were an estimated 45 juvenile criminals for every 10,000 kids; by 1992, the figure had in­creased to 130. Although Taiwan's juvenile crime situation is considerably less serious than that of the United States—kids aren't carrying handguns to school and hard drugs are virtually nonexistent on campus—people are very much wor­ried about the trend.

The statistics for the last three years are especially sobering. In 1990, there were approximately 17,300 reported cases of crimes committed by juveniles; in 1991, there was a 47 percent leap to 25,500; and in 1992, another 21 percent jump to 30,700. Police officials report that juveniles now account for about 20 per­cent of total reported crimes.

The bleak statistical picture is only slightly misleading. The particularly large leap in numbers in 1991 was par­tially a result of a change in law that added a new crime category. When the Narcotics Control Law was revised in October 1990, drug abuse among teens was added as a misdemeanor (except for use of hard drugs, including heroin and cocaine, which is punished more seri­ously). The revision to the law was in re­sponse to a striking increase in drug abuse among teenagers, a scourge that Taiwan had largely avoided until a few years ago.

In 1992, there were roughly ten thousand cases of juveniles convicted of illegal drug use, an increase of 57 percent over the previous year.

In the late 1980s, the major juvenile crime was larceny, especially motor vehicle theft. Roughly 60 percent of juve­nile crime cases involved automobiles, mainly motorcycles. But the new narcot­ics law caused a shift in juvenile crime statistics; in 1992, theft decreased to about 46 percent of the total and drug offenses rose to 36 percent. The statistics for other crimes defined by the Law Governing the Disposition of Juvenile Cases, including robbery, assault, extor­tion, and gambling, did not change significantly.

According to research by Ma Chuan-chen (馬傳鎮), a professor of crime prevention at the Central Police College in Taoyuan county, certain trends can be traced in juvenile delin­quent behavior over the last decade. His studies show an increase in the kinds of crimes committed by kids in the twelve to eighteen age group—they now include all the categories committed by adult of­ fenders, including rape, kidnapping, and murder.

In addition, juvenile delinquency fre­quently has a group orientation. More than two-thirds of the juvenile cases are perpetrated by two or more kids acting together. There is a strong "hedonistic el­ement" as well, Ma says, pointing out that motor vehicle and property theft account for nearly half of the total reported crimes. He also reports that the rapid increase of drug abuse shows that more and more teens seem to lack a sense of purpose in life.

One of the most worrisome signs, however, is that juvenile criminals tend to be younger than in the past. Those aged fourteen are the largest group, and more than half of juvenile criminals are still in school.

Yang Kuo-shu (楊國樞), a professor of psychology at National Taiwan University, says that kids in trouble should not be lumped together as "juvenile de­linquents." He suggests three major cat­egories to help differentiate among various types of problem kids: First, genuine delinquent behavior. This in­cludes kids who regularly break the laws, regulations, and codes set up by society, school, and family. Common manifesta­tions are theft, assault, drug abuse, and running away from home and school. Second, neurotic behavior. This refers to kids with inner conflicts, frustrations, and anxieties that cannot be easily solved and that oftentimes lead to serious psy­chological or emotional disturbance. The third category is kids with learning diffi­culties that are not caused by physical or mental impairment, but by bad attitudes or habits that inhibit success in school. Each category, Yang points out, requires different corrective approaches.

Wu Ying-chang (吳英樟), a professor of clinical psychology at National Taiwan University, has also conducted research on adolescent problems. He reports a ma­jor shift in kids' attitudes toward school and study. According to recent surveys, 70 percent of Taiwan's junior high school students (aged twelve to fifteen) have strongly negative attitudes toward learn­ing. "This is a serious warning about the status of mental health among our adoles­cents," he says.

What's wrong with today's kids? What happened to Taiwan's seemingly endless ranks of short-haired, squeaky-clean, uniformed students diligently memorizing their textbook lessons for the next exam? Why are so many going astray? Experts may disagree on what causes juvenile delinquency, but they generally agree that heredity, individual personality traits, and family, school, and social environment all have major im­pact on child development. The differ­ence of opinion occurs when they assess primary and secondary causes of delin­quency.

According to Peggy P.L. Wang (王佩玲), a specialist in the Crime Prevention Division of the National Police Adminis­tration, family environment is a prime fac­tor in juvenile delinquency. "The root of the problem with kids in trouble lies in the fam­ily." But she adds that if delinquency is to grow, it requires a supporting environment. Taiwan's rapidly modernizing society is apparently also becoming a hothouse for juve­nile crime. "Just as fever is a symptom that signifies the body is ill, crime is a reflection of an unhealthy society," Wang says.

Lin Wan-i (林萬億), a professor of sociology at National Taiwan University, suggests social environment is a major cause of delinquent behavior. He indi­cates several indices that show how recent social change has affected the views and behavior of today's kids. Beginning in the late 1970s, Lin says, personal income in­creased rapidly along with the island's economic development. "The media are constantly reporting how rich Taiwan has become, and kids are affected by this. They tend to think that money is easy to get. The desire for consumer goods in our society seems insatiable. But for those lacking self-control, when they see some­thing they can't afford, they are tempted to resort to illegal means."

Another index, Lin says, was the rise of a "fast-food culture" in the early 1980s(the first foreign franchise was McDonald's, in 1982). It was new, it was "modern," and teens could afford the food. But Lin claims the restaurants have also affected teenagers' attitudes toward human relations. "Fast-food-like relations have replaced long-term relations in friendship and love," he says.

Taiwan's liberalizing political trends have also influenced the atmos­phere in school and relations in the family. "In the past, society was authoritar­ian," Lin says. "In both family and school, teachers and parents were domi­neering figures. Parents had the absolute right to decide what their children could and could not do, and academic achieve­ment was the only standard that served to evaluate a child's worth. Now, as society becomes more open, kids are more likely to rebel. They want to be treated as equals."

Lin says the interaction of these three areas of change has encouraged kids of this generation—those born in the late 1970s and afterward—to lead a life­ style radically different from previous generations. "A generation ago, kids lived in poverty, or at least in poor cir­cumstances, and they were raised in a comparatively authoritarian way," Lin says. By the time these kids became par­ents, however, the social, political, and economic environment had changed radically. "Today, they are trying to learn to cope with the changes themselves in addition to dealing with their own kids," Lin says. "They are often at a loss about what to do. The result is misunderstand­ing and conflict."

Lin points out that a trend toward "presentism" is yet another problem. There is a change in teen consumption patterns, including entertainment. "Teens today stress immediate gratification; they are less concerned about the future," he says. "They are less concerned about ca­reer planning, about learning vocational and professional skills, and this will affect the future development of society."

Traditional ethical standards are also taking a beating. Lin complains that one spin-off from Taiwan's political democratization is an increasing tendency for teens to challenge the traditional concept of "respecting the elderly." For genera­tions, parents, teachers, and other mem­bers of society have been used to kids accepting their position and authority without question. Times have changed.

And because of the rapid pace of so­cial change, a difference in values can even occur between siblings. Ma Jen-hwa (馬振華 ), head of the Juvenile Division, Taipei Police Department, tells of one case that came to his attention: "A son asked his father if his girlfriend could stay overnight with the family. He thought it was safer than if they spent the night someplace else." But a major family quar­rel ensued because the boy's older brother protested that when he was in his teens, he was forbidden even to come home late, let alone bring a girl home. "He complained it was not fair, and that his father was be­ing inconsistent," Ma says.

"Today's parents were taught that children should be submissive and that filial piety meant obedience," Lin Wan-i says. "But in our educational system, no one teaches us how to be parents; we need to be re-educated."

The school system itself is also criti­cized for being out of date. For example, Lin says, the old methods of school disci­pline, which were modeled on practices commonly found in army basic training camps, no longer work. "Students de­mand more equality and more individual attention," he says. "Unfortunately, the educational system has been slow in adapting to these expectations."

Time-honored methods of academic evaluation are also being challenged. For example, Lin points out, high school courses still put little emphasis on person­ality and social skill development. Most of class time is spent listening to lectures, cram studying, and rote memorizing. Communication in the classroom is essen­tially one way, from teacher to student. Discussion and questioning are not en­couraged, in part a result of large class sizes. Most teachers still use the old meth­ods, even though they are aware of the widening gap between school life and so­cial reality. "Many teachers have told me that they would like to change," Lin says. "But they can't because of pressure from school administrators and parents."

Lin says that many parents think teachers should take all responsibility for educating kids. "They seldom make con­tact with teachers or the school, and al­ most never cooperate with the school to help problem children," he says. Also, fewer children have an extended family to fall back on for support when they are heading for trouble. The increasing number of nuclear families and larger per­centage of working mothers (1991 statis­tics show that 48 percent of women aged between 16 and 65 work) has meant that many kids don't have a parent or relative waiting for them at home after they get out of school. "It's all right for women to join the labor market, but who will take care of the children?" Lin asks.

In Taiwan, the normal workday ends at 5:30 P.M., and the commute home can add an hour or more. But both junior high and high school students end classes at 4:30 P.M., which means there is a growing number of "latchkey kids." Many of these elect not to go directly home after school, but instead stop off at a fast-food outlet, video game arcade, or a shop that sells books and comics. But many of these places are illegal operations. "In Japan, such places are under strict supervision be­ cause some of the video games are full of erotic, violent material," Lin says. "And many video games involve gambling."

Video arcades are also gaining a reputation for being places to buy illegal drugs. Teen violence is an ever-present danger as well. Ma Jen-hwa says extor­tion is a worsening problem. "We are get­ting more and more cases of kids intimidating classmates in order to get money to play video games," he says.

But Ma is even more worried about potential criminal behavior among high­ risk kids. He says that today, many more kids are running away from home and school, and they need help. "They are on the verge of committing crimes because they only have meager resources," he says. "Once they run out of money, they are eas­ily drawn to illegal behavior. Just to stay alive, boys may turn to violence to get money, and girls may start selling themselves." Even more worrisome, Ma says, is the challenge to traditional thinking that juvenile criminals come mainly from poor or broken homes. "Although the connec­tion is still strong, more and more cases show that even in normal, well-to-do families, kids still run away," he says.

What can be done for kids in trouble? "Parents have to change their concepts and approach to children," Ma says. When a kid ends up in a police sta­tion, he explains, parents usually put all the blame on the child, and the police are expected to take care of the situation. But when Ma and his colleagues talk to the kids themselves, they frequently find that the parents are not altogether innocent. "We are supposed to give guidance to problem kids, but we often find that we have to deal with the parents first," Ma says. "If we don't get any cooperation, we have very little impact."

Chung Shi-kai (鐘思嘉), chairman of the Department of Psychology at National Chengchi University, agrees that many ju­venile delinquents are in fact from problem families. "Kids easily develop problems if their parents are too strict, inconsistent, reject or ignore their needs, or even worse, if they quarrel all the time," Chung says. But Chung emphasizes that it is not fair to put all the blame on parents. "Often they aren't aware of any alternatives," he says. "They simply base their methods on their own experience."

Chung specializes in adolescent psy­chology and has for years promoted fam­ily education and the improvement of parent-child relations. "Most parents," he says, "know only the traditional rule of 'spare the rod, spoil the child' or 'dutiful sons are the product of the rod.' In the past, parents often used corporal punish­ment." Chung says that the world of teen­agers is not necessarily that difficult to enter and understand, but it does take ef­fort. "The problem is that too many adults do not try, and they create unnecessary misunderstandings," he says.

Adolescence is also full of hormonal complications, and even these are becom­ing more complex. Many are now show­ing sexual development at age ten, instead of twelve or thirteen, as in past years. "While kids are maturing earlier physi­cally, I don't see signs of more rapid psy­chological maturing," Chung says. "Even college students don't know how to han­dle basic emotional problems and human relations."

What can be done on the gov­ernment level to reduce the juvenile delinquency prob­lem? The first major step has already been taken because the gov­ernment has not turned a blind eye to the problem. To the contrary, it has begun setting up a number of programs geared to prevent juvenile delinquency and improve social welfare for kids. Some examples:

Taiwan's print media have come un­der closer government scrutiny. A number of local newspapers have long carried advertisements that promote sex, pornog­raphy, and gambling. Other papers run ads using female models in poses and clothing (or lack of it) of highly question­ able taste. Earlier this year, to protect young kids from being exposed to illegal activities and soft-porn ads, the Govern­ment Information Office (GIO) announced a campaign called "Say No to Indecent Ads." Quanta Foods, Ltd., is cooperating with the GIO and has printed placemats ad­vertising the campaign for use in its sev­enty McDonald's stores. In addition, the GIO is sponsoring TV and radio ads to pro­mote the policy.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) is applying what it calls a "public hygiene approach" to crime prevention. One of its major concerns is to encourage police and other agencies to clean up the areas where youth tend to congregate. According to Ma Jen-hwa of the Taipei Police Depart­ment, it is especially important to regulate such popular teen hangouts as KTVs (video karaoke), video game arcades, pool rooms, and night clubs.

The MOE is also focusing more effort on helping the thousands of high school students who drop out of school and the thousands more of junior high school graduates who neither continue their stud­ies nor find jobs. "These kids need help most," Ma says. Selected teachers are en­trusted with counseling students who are considering dropping out and helping them with career planning. They conduct home visits and do follow-up work until the student decides to stay in school or gets a job. The success of the project, which is still in the testing stage, hinges as much on patience as it does diligence. "We may dislike the misbehavior of kids because they do not act as we expect, but we know that problems and needs are two sides of the same coin," says Hung Pao-lien (洪寶蓮), director of counseling at Shihlin Junior High School.

The MOE also announced a six-year plan, starting from July 1991, with a budget of NT$8.95 billion (US$318 mil­lion), to lay the foundation for a long­ term, islandwide guidance counseling network for students. Psychologist Wu Ying-chang, who is in charge of the plan, says the purpose is to integrate all exist­ing counseling services and maximize the use of human resources and counseling information.

"Broadly defined, the purpose of the network is to coordinate all educational information and services in order to give kids the greatest flexibility possible in pursuing their goals," Wu says. In the past, he says, the island's various counseling resources rarely consulted with each other. The new network will make schools the focus of counseling, then tie them in with family and social agencies such as the Teacher Chang counseling service, religious organiza­tions, and hospitals (all public hospitals offer special outpatient services for teens). Wu has high expectations for co­operation between government agencies and the private sector in this project: "If the network works, it should be a great resource for combating the rise in juvenile crime."