As I examined the evidence and proposed ideas of Lykken, Westman, and Scarr, I came to the conclusion that I disagree with the idea of licensing parents. This decision did not come clearly to me at first. I had to consider the purpose behind each author’s design before judging their overall stance.
Both Lykken and Westman proposed that society should have criteria in place for parents to become parents. The criterion would prevent societal ills such as crime and act as a buffer towards potential child neglect and abuse. Lykken advocates for Westman’s viewpoints on licensure in order to decrease macro-level issues by arguing that two parent homes are the most optimal living environment for children. He states that “a striking correlation exists, at least in the United States, between …show more content…
However, I had a difficult time agreeing with their methods of licensure. If one or both biological parents were determined incompetent, the child would be removed from the home to be placed with adults who are adequately licensed. I believe that this component destroys the principles this theory attempts to hold. I question the outcomes children might deal with as they may possibly face instability in home structure while their biological parents try to obtain licensure. I decided to look into a study done by Newton, Litrownik, and Landsverk. They observed a cohort of 415 children within the foster care system over a 12- month period. Their goal was to observe the effects of multiple moves on the children. The study found suggests that “volatile placement histories contribute negatively to both internalizing and externalizing behavior of foster children, and that children who experience numerous changes in placement may be at particularly high risk” (Newton et. al 2000). If this is the case, are we stripping these children of the civil rights Lykken and Westman are striving
Both Lykken and Westman proposed that society should have criteria in place for parents to become parents. The criterion would prevent societal ills such as crime and act as a buffer towards potential child neglect and abuse. Lykken advocates for Westman’s viewpoints on licensure in order to decrease macro-level issues by arguing that two parent homes are the most optimal living environment for children. He states that “a striking correlation exists, at least in the United States, between …show more content…
However, I had a difficult time agreeing with their methods of licensure. If one or both biological parents were determined incompetent, the child would be removed from the home to be placed with adults who are adequately licensed. I believe that this component destroys the principles this theory attempts to hold. I question the outcomes children might deal with as they may possibly face instability in home structure while their biological parents try to obtain licensure. I decided to look into a study done by Newton, Litrownik, and Landsverk. They observed a cohort of 415 children within the foster care system over a 12- month period. Their goal was to observe the effects of multiple moves on the children. The study found suggests that “volatile placement histories contribute negatively to both internalizing and externalizing behavior of foster children, and that children who experience numerous changes in placement may be at particularly high risk” (Newton et. al 2000). If this is the case, are we stripping these children of the civil rights Lykken and Westman are striving