Adolescents' Perceptions of Deviant Behavior

Abstract

The study reveals peculiarities of perceptions which adolescents from different social groups have about deviant behavior. From the findings obtained in the examination of 80 adolescents using 5 methods, peculiarities were studied of how deviant behavior is viewed. It was revealed that the adolescents from the "normal" group have a more accurate picture of deviant behavior, whereas adolescents who were registered at juvenile affairs departments have an inadequate ideas about it, placing it close to delinquent behavior. External and internal causes were found which have negative impact on adolescents' views. External causes play the key role in the formation of an adolescent's personality and his/her views. Internal causes manifest in indifferent attitude to his/her studies, negative attitude towards the world, lack of trust in adults. In the absence of adolescents' awareness of the authority on the part of adults, obedience isn't a behavioral norm and means mental activity aimed to satisfy their own desires, ambitions and to belong to a group. Due to adolescents' personality specifics such as incomplete personality formation, non-constructive ways of resolving difficult situations, these specifics can be rated among the internal causes of adolescents' views about deviant behavior and of insufficient understanding of the consequences which this behavior leads to.