Introduction
Young people are frequently the most prevalent victims of crime in virtually all nations, mainly because of their lifestyle; they are more prone to being victims of assault, theft, and other property crime than older adults or young children. They are frequently the victims of crime and violence other young people commit (Berdibayeva et al., 2021). Individual victims of juvenile offending, whether property or violent, are likely to be young people who live in the same neighborhoods or attend the same schools as adults. Studies in developing nations have shown that young individuals traumatized as children or adolescents are more likely to use violence, have mental health issues, commit crimes, or use illegal narcotics. As a result, the behaviors and conditions that lead to law-breaking are frequently comparable to those that lead to victimization (Berdibayeva et al., 2021). Given that young people prefer to victimize individuals their age, those who are ostracized or excluded may resort to bullying others. This study aims to identify the characteristics that contribute to deviant behavior among teenagers aged 15 to 35 worldwide.
Theory of Reasoned Action
This theory considers behavior intentions rather than attitudes to be the most important determinants of behavior. The study thought that most people are reasonable and make systematic use of the information accessible to them (Guyer, 2020). People evaluate their actions’ consequences before deciding whether to engage in a specific behavior. According to the idea, the essential predictor of a person’s behavior is a mix of attitude toward completing and ability to accomplish the behavior. If a person believes that the consequence of a behavior will be favorable, they will have a positive attitude toward that behavior (Guyer, 2020). Even if a person is highly driven by their beliefs and subjective norms, they may not do the behavior owing to intervening contextual variables if behaviors are not controlled.
Self-Efficacy Theory
According to the Self-Efficacy Theory, human behavior is impacted by the degree to which an individual feels he has the capacity or competence to engage in various behaviors. When applied to the current study, the self-efficacy theory suggests that adolescents must believe they can disengage from activities that encourage deviant behavior and instead engage in activities that promote acceptable behavior.
Self-Regulatory Theory
According to the Self-Regulatory Theory, individuals are typically inspired to regulate their behavior to avoid engaging in deviant behavior. They actively extract information from their environment and previous experience to formulate plans and actions to cope with moves that lead to delinquent behavior (Tsai et al., 2022). When applied to the current study, the self-regulatory theory indicates that youth confronted with the threat of engaging in deviant behavior could continually regulate their zeal to delinquent behavior by actively utilizing data supplied by behavior change education programs, social norms, and data from their environment (Tsai et al., 2022). Such knowledge helps adolescents make plans and implement measures that help them cope with the desire to participate in deviant activity.
Deviant Behaviors amongst the Youths
Not all young individuals engage in aberrant behavior. Some young people conform to standards because of factors that control and regulate human behavior. It is a rite of passage in many nations, particularly among males, and most people grow out of it. It begins with a more severe and prolonged career for others, creating a continuum from modest to more strenuous activities and taking risks. Adolescents are prone to risky behavior, which includes vandalism, stealing, becoming involved in gangs, illicit activities, drug abuse, engaging in unsafe sex, joining “tags” in dangerous situations, trying to climb on the rooftops of public buses, and interacting in individual or group battles, among other things (Oguntayo et al., 2020). All of these risky behaviors have an impact on public order and a sense of safety.
Factors Linked to Deviant Behavior
It is now sufficient and increasing evidence in both developed and developing nations that the environments in which children and adolescents grow up are critical for their mental and physical health and emotional, social, and intellectual development. Their lives are influenced and shaped by a wide range of variables (Oguntayo et al., 2020). The quality of early childhood care, circumstances, and parental and family interactions are critical. Local and family poverty, as well as inadequate housing and environmental circumstances, all have a significant influence on family life and the quality of care provided. Adolescents’ well-being is influenced by the availability, access to, and quality of schools, role models, and connections to family and friends. This includes the presence of leisure and recreational facilities and local educational systems that fit their requirements and represent local norms and cultures (Kovalenko et al., 2022). The availability of healthy and meaningful career options and decent healthcare also play essential roles. Peer pressure to participate in dangerous behavior and the prevalence of weapons, drugs, alcohol abuse, and street gangs are examples of adverse pressures.
Many common characteristics put children and adolescents at risk of being involved in crime and harmful behaviors or victimized. Family variables, individual factors, school factors, and community or environmental factors are examples of risk factor patterns. Gender differences are especially relevant since young girls and women are exposed to distinct experiences and hazards as they grow up than boys and young men (Kovalenko et al., 2022). The lack of long-term work has a significant impact on young people. Generations of young people on the streets, seeking to support their families or themselves, have become common in urban places. The lack of job possibilities, especially for high school and university graduates, has put many young people in danger and increased teenage delinquency rates.
Young people are the most vulnerable segment of the population regarding the disease. Furthermore, young people are disproportionately affected by the influence of globalization on values and cultures, which in some instances is fast undermining local cultural connections and affiliations, generational bonds, and imposing damaging and ultimately unreachable sets of ideals. The lack of long-term work has a significant impact on young people (Tsai et al., 2022). The effect of decades of conflict, the recruitment of child soldiers, and the increase in child and young person smuggling have all contributed to the harsh condition in which youths are growing up (Kovalenko et al., 2022). Because of the mix of poverty, unemployment, environmental and health issues, and conflict, many young people in African cities are in danger of exploitation and offending.
Conclusion
The goal of this study was to identify perceived characteristics that affect deviant behavior among children throughout the world. Deviant behavior among teenagers was prevalent in both males and females, as well as among couples. Despite the occurrence of aberrant behavior, it was observed that most adolescents were educated. Compared to those at work, youngsters who were unemployed or lacked skills had an unfavorable opinion of deviant behavior. Drug misuse, drinking, prostitution, and premarital sex were the most frequent deviant behaviors. However, there is no link connecting socioeconomic factors and aberrant behavior among young people worldwide. Nonetheless, there is no link between adolescents’ socio-psychological characteristics and aberrant behavior. Deviant behavior is linked to unemployment, poverty, a lack of skills, peer influence, and familial influence.
References
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