PEER SUPPORT AND ADOLESCENT DEVIANT BEHAVIOR: THE IMPLICATION OF TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS IN MEZAM DIVISION, NORTHWEST REGION OF CAMEROON

Аннотация

INTRODUCTION transformation of an individual and society at Education remains one of the tools for the https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajssei 41 THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION INNOVATIONS (ISSN- 2689-100X) VOLUME 06 ISSUE12 large. It is one of the most powerful instruments the norms of a particular society at a particular for social change, which plays a crucial role in time and violation of certain types of group norms nation-building. According to Idowu and Esere where behavior is in a disapproved direction and (2007), education helps to develop people’s of sufficient degree to exceed the tolerance limit of intellectual and functional capabilities, but some the community (Macious & Gerber, 2010). deviant behaviours has made the school not to be peer support is an important aspect that can affect effective. The school is a place where students mental health both positively and negatively. The acquire needed competencies for various World Health Organization (2019) defines mental vocations. The place of the counsellor in schools is health as a state of well-being that enables the important which may help to reduce such ills. individual to know their capabilities and use them Deviant behaviour refers to behaviour that does effectively and productively in a way that will be not conform to the norms and expectations of a useful to them and their communities. Peer given group of people or society (Oghiagbephan & support provides physical and psychological Ikekhua, 2013). Deviant behaviours from time advantages for people faced with stressful physical immemorial are attributed mostly to the and psychosocial events and helps in reducing adolescents and the youths in educational system. psychological distress when faced with stressful However, due to the dynamism of the society, events (Harandi, Taghinasab and Nayeri 2017). various sorts of deviant behaviours are being Review of related literature exhibited in our present dispensation. In recent The role played by peers in adolescent deviant times, schools and the society at large have become behavior has been examined from two contrasting reservoirs for committing various sorts of deviant perspectives: the social bonding perspective and behaviours which include theft, rudeness, sexual- the social interaction perspective. The social harassment, truancy, late coming to school and so bonding perspective lay emphasis on the bright on (Oghiagbephan & Ikekhua, 2013). Accordingly, side of friendship and stresses that peers these phenomena have become a destructive contribute positively to adolescent’s emotional, approach that marred the growth and cognitive, academic and behavioral functioning. In sustainability of most schools and societal settings contrast the perspective of social integration today. focuses on the dark side of peer group particularly Deviant behaviours among secondary school going with regards to risk taking and antisocial populations the world over, are of concern to behaviour. This approach examines peer’s educators, counsellors and psychologists. This is behaviour styles and peer’s interaction to explain because deviant behaviours at the adolescent stage how peers may have a negative impact on have the potential to undermine the achievement adolescent’s adjustments (Vitaro, Boivin and of both personal and national goals. The danger to Bukowski, 2009). Experience with peers is achievement of goals stems, largely from the commonly assumed to make numerous varying control responses that are often elicited contributions to a student’s behavior. Having peers with regard to deviant behaviors (Karega, 2013). that have antisocial behaviour and friends that are Deviance describes actions or behaviors that depressed has a negative effect on the wellbeing of violate social norms, including formally enacted adolescents (Hartup, 1993). rules as well as informal violations of social norms. According to Aissenson and others (2007) The departure of certain types of behavior from adolescents feel freer to talk about their problems https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajssei 42 THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION INNOVATIONS (ISSN- 2689-100X) VOLUME 06 ISSUE12 with their peers rather than their parents as such force for the child, they provide an important peers play a great role in the formation of context for learning, socialization and integration adolescent behavior. The influence peers and within a social network. friends have on adolescents is both positive and Research shows that adolescents with positive negative. The need for acceptance is very strong feelings toward their school are less likely to be among adolescents, and their desire to belong to a deviant (Dornbusch, Erickson, Laird, and Wong particular social network may have an undesirable 2001). When parents do not have a strong bond price to pay. When a child has friends that with their child and do no