The Erosion of the Family’s Role and Its Repercussions for Youth Deviance: An Analytical Sociological Perspective

The family constitutes the fundamental institution of primary socialization, shaping individual values, behavioral orientations, and cultural frameworks that guide subsequent integration into society.However, rapid economic, social, and cultural transformations have progressively eroded the family's educational and normative functions.This erosion has generated visible repercussions in the form of youth deviance, manifested in diminished selfdiscipline, normative disintegration, and the proliferation of deviant behaviors.The issue is particularly acute in the Arab world, and in Algeria specifically, where structural challenges-including family disintegration, economic hardship, technological intrusion, and weakened parental authority-exacerbate vulnerability among young people.This article provides an analytical sociological perspective on the nexus between the weakening of the family and the rise of youth deviance.Through a theoretical and contextual exploration, it highlights the interactive variables driving this phenomenon and proposes pragmatic measures to mitigate its societal impact.The family has historically functioned as the cornerstone of social cohesion and stability.It is the first institution where individuals acquire values, norms, and roles essential for societal integration.Yet, globalization, technological change, and socioeconomic pressures have undermined this pivotal role.In many societies, particularly within the Arab region, the weakening of family structures has coincided with a marked rise in deviant behaviors among youth.Algeria offers a critical case study in which traditional family bonds are increasingly challenged by economic instability, rapid cultural shifts, and new modes of socialization outside parental control.