Deviant Behaviour in School Setting

By Egemen Hanımoğlu

To examine causes & effects of deviant behaviour and identify main strategies to combat it.

Research • Qualitative research - survey

• 42 High school students with aberrant behaviours (aged 14-18) from randomly chosen 3 schools in Adana, Turkey.
Methodology • Psychological testing (17 item questionnaire with open-ended questions) & interviews (teachers & parents)

• 74% felt responsible for their deviant behaviour, 26% felt that their behaviour was influenced by others
• 38% consumed alcohol (12 – for fun, 4 – relieve stress)
• 16% smoked
Findings • None were drug addict, 76% were against drug use
• 38% had suicidal thoughts, 8% tried them
• 65% loved computer games & do not consider it a deviant behaviour
• 87% associated media with deviancy due to the content posted especially if it was uncensored

• Main cause of deviance lie in peculiarities of interconnection & interaction of the person with their surrounding world &
social environment (Lewis & Frydenberg, 2004)
• Three main causes are biological, psychological & social
Discussions • Biological – physiological pecularities of the person
• Psychological – pecularities of their temperament, accentuation character
• Social – interaction of the person with their society, family, and school

• Alcohol consumption & smoking need to be addressed

• Typical delinquent behaviour in children & teenagers is an unhealthy dependency on their mother even if she enacts
Conclusion & negative actions against the child

Recommendations • Prevention of deviant behaviour among teenagers – formation of healthy attitude towards themselves, their surrounding
& developing a healthy way of life (through social media, cultural works, social education)
• Correction of deviant behaviour – carried out by both parents & professional psychologists