Directions and forms of prevention of deviant behavior
Due to the fact that behavioral deviations belong to the group of the most dangerous and persistent phenomena, the prevention of deviant behavior acquires special social significance and relevance. In this matter, two aspects should be distinguished:
- prevention of deviant behavior as a system of social measures (in a broad sense),
- psychoprophylaxis as a direction of psychological activity (in a narrow sense).
In general, the prevention of deviant behavior involves a system of general and special measures at various levels of social organization:
- national,
- legal,
- public
- economic,
- medical and sanitary
- pedagogical,
- socio-psychological.
The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes a distinction between primary, secondary and tertiary prevention (2). Primary prevention is aimed at eliminating unfavorable factors that cause a certain phenomenon, as well as increasing the individual’s resistance to the influence of these factors. In relation to deviant behavior, primary prevention can be defined as the massive and universal prevention of actions that deviate from social norms. Primary prevention is focused mainly on childhood and adolescence.
The task of secondary prevention is the early identification and correction of unfavorable individual and social factors that are likely to cause deviant behavior. This is work with a risk group - primarily children and adolescents living in unfavorable or “aggressive” social conditions. In this regard, secondary prevention can also be called selective intervention. It is aimed at identifying high-risk groups and determining methods of working with them. Such work covers a smaller segment of the population than universal prevention.
Tertiary prevention solves special problems, such as preventing relapses, as well as the harmful consequences of already formed deviant behavior for the individual and society. In essence, this is a modification intervention, or active influence on an even narrower circle of people with stable or highly likely behavioral deviations.
Researchers identify different types, levels and areas of prevention, characterized by specific goals, objectives, methods, and exposure.
The following areas of preventive work are distinguished:
- Prevention based on working with risk groups in medical and medical-social institutions. Creation of a so-called network of social support institutions.
- Prevention based on work in schools, creation of a network of “healthy schools”, inclusion of preventive classes in the curriculum of all schools.
- Prevention based on working with families.
- Prevention in organized public groups of youth and in the workplace.
- Prevention through the media.
- Prevention aimed at risk groups in unorganized groups - in territories, streets, with street children.
- Systematic training of specialists in the field of prevention.
- Mass motivational preventive activity.
Psychoprophylactic work involves a system of psychological measures aimed at preventing deviant behavior of an individual (group). Psychoprophylaxis can be included in a set of measures at all of the listed levels and forms of preventive work. It is believed that it is most effective in the form of influencing the conditions and causes that cause deviant behavior in the early stages of the emergence of problems.
Currently, various conceptual approaches to the psychoprophylactic work of deviant behavior of an individual (group). Upon closer examination, the concepts of preventive work can be divided into three areas in accordance with three leading goals:
- eliminating risk factors;
- development of personal resources;
- creating a supportive environment.
The first approach, focused on eliminating risk factors for deviant behavior, is most often implemented in practice. In this case, specialists are faced with the task of early identification and elimination of unfavorable factors that increase the likelihood of behavioral deviations, for example, increased anxiety or the teenager’s low status in the peer group.
In modern psychological theory and practice, noticeably more attention is paid to a conceptual model aimed at developing intrapersonal resources, such as stress resistance or social competence. Here, the idea of developing coping behavior—effective strategies for coping with stress—has gained particular popularity.
The third approach, focused on creating a developing social environment, for example, a supportive family or a creative children's group, in our opinion, is the most promising, but at the same time the most difficult for practical implementation.
Summarizing the available data, we can formulate the general goal of psychoprophylactic work as the elimination of discrepancies and deficits in the system of individual relationships. This goal can be achieved by solving a set of interrelated tasks.
Objectives of psychoprophylaxis of deviant behavior:
- formation of a value attitude towards rules and social norms;
- formation of the value of a healthy lifestyle;
- development of positive life meanings and the ability to set goals;
- increasing the competence and social success of the individual in vital areas of activity;
- inclusion of the individual in a supportive social group that has positive social goals;
- development of productive self-regulation skills, primarily by increasing awareness of one’s own behavior, planning and assessing its consequences, productive strategies for coping with stress;
- timely correction of disrupted interpersonal relationships and the formation of interpersonal competence.
The main target of psychoprophylactic intervention is adolescence, as the period of the most intensive socialization, accompanied by a high risk of conflicts and deviant reactions. Since the principle of complexity requires carrying out preventive work simultaneously at different levels of social interaction of an individual, the target of psychoprophylactic influence cannot only be children or adolescents.
The following should be considered as objects for the prevention of deviant behavior in children and adolescents:
- children's and adolescent groups;
- teachers and specialists of educational institutions;
- teachers and specialists from additional education institutions (clubs, sports sections);
- volunteers from among teenagers and young adults;
- social workers;
- organizers of youth associations;
- officials and legislators.
The issue of the effectiveness of psychoprophylactic work is widely debated. In order to increase its effectiveness, the most general requirements or principles are identified, compliance with which reduces the risk of negative results of psychoprophylactic work and increases the likelihood of its success.
The leading principles of psychoprophylaxis of deviant behavior include:
- complex nature of preventive work (impact on a complex of factors);
- targeting (taking into account the age, gender and socio-psychological specifics of the target group);
- mass character (priority of group forms of work);
- positivity (minimization of the risk of negative results, emphasis on factors of resistance and personal resources);
- personal interest and responsibility of participants in psychoprophylactic work;
- focus on the future (assessing the consequences of deviant behavior, updating positive values and goals, planning the future without aggressive behavior);
- professional competence (the need for targeted training of specialists).
Foreign studies focus on the following performance criteria :
- economic feasibility (consistency of financial investments and results);
- conceptual clarity and scientific validity;
- coordination of efforts of various organizations and departments.
Unfortunately, a number of facts point to the insufficient effectiveness of preventing deviant behavior among young people, especially with regard to drug use. First of all, this circumstance is associated with insufficient scientific validity of preventive measures, ignoring the age specificity of preventive work and insufficiently effective interaction of various social services. Another common mistake in preventive work is the inadequacy of the methods and techniques used. Inappropriate methods of preventive influence include: prohibitions, intimidation, excessive information about the psychotropic effects of drugs, excessive categoricalness and moralizing. The listed measures of influence not only do not lead to the expected result, but in some cases cause a pronounced negative effect, for example in the form of increased interest in deviant actions.
Prevention programs aimed at children, adolescents and youth, first of all, must take into account the specific characteristics of age, including high social activity, curiosity, a tendency to protest behavior, dependence on fashion and youth subculture, a tendency to take risks and extreme forms of activity.
Meanings, subject and goals of research
Scientific research is aimed at studying the causes of deviant behavior in order to identify the most effective methods of helping children make a painless transition into adolescence.
The subject of study by scientists is the diagnosis of unusual child behavior. The object is the causes, forms and mechanisms of development of behavioral disorders in children.
Methods for studying deviant behavior
The purpose of the study is to answer the questions:
- What behavior of teenagers can be called normal and what is abnormal?
- Causes of abnormal behavior?
- Ways to solve problems associated with deviant behavior?
The goal is to identify and diagnose abnormal conditions in adolescents.
The point of view of orthodox psychoanalysis of foreign psychologists
The representative of this direction is S. Freud. He believed that personality is the result of the interaction of restraining and motivating factors.
Sigmund Freud
The dynamics of personality development depend on instinctive actions:
- the source of the initial impulse;
- incentives for satisfaction;
- goals (actually, satisfaction);
- object as a carrier of purpose.
S. Freud calls sexuality the main motive of human life.
Components of personality:
- id - the instinctive part that obeys the principle of receiving pleasure;
- the ego relies on awareness of its place in reality in the course of communication with other individuals;
- the superego opposes itself to the ego, forming a super task, stimulating and restraining it.
Pursuing various tasks, the ego, id and superego give rise to a difficult conflict, which can only be dealt with using defense mechanisms. Personality is formed normally if they are adjusted to maintain a balance between the unconscious and the conscious.
Freud's theory of personality proposes three components
S. Freud's research showed that the basis of all personality drives is the desire for sex and death (libido and tonatos), mutually exclusive reproduction and destruction.
According to the theory of orthodox psychology, human behavior is established in the family in the early years of life, and those problems that arise in adolescence are the result of problems in early childhood.
Causes of deviance in adolescents according to Freud
Causes of deviant behavior in adolescents according to Z. Freud:
- conflict between ego desires and superego restrictions;
- the dissonant relationship between tonatos and libido;
- improperly constructed defense mechanisms;
- negative childhood experiences.
Drug addiction is one of the types of deviance
Research by object relations theorists
Its main author is psychologist Melanie Klein. She based her theory on the conflict between the desires for security and pleasure. A person constantly strives to satisfy needs in a safe environment.
Melanie Klein and her theory
Its prototype is breastfeeding a child.
A person carries this stereotype throughout his life. Klein M. identifies the concepts of “good” and “bad” breasts. The good one corresponds to the primary stereotype of receiving pleasure, the bad one does not. If the child cannot clearly separate the “good” breast from the other, maladjustment occurs. leave a comment
Individual psychology about the causes of abnormal behavior
Research by the famous representative of individual psychology, Adler, showed society to be the most important in the formation of personality. A person’s entire life is subordinated to the achievement of a conscious or unconscious goal. Adler called the main driver of development the desire to be the best.
Psychologist Alfred Adler
Adler's role in the study of adolescent misbehavior is to describe situations that inevitably lead to a lack of interest in life in society, the development of a separate lifestyle, isolation, coupled with a sense of personal superiority:
- a condition associated with physical disability;
- rejection;
- spoiled.
Adler argues that children with physical disabilities can overcome challenges and their consequences with excellent results.
Rejected children subsequently find it difficult to cultivate a feeling of love on their own, and over time they become cruel and cold.
List of qualities of deviant teenagers
Spoiled children are not confident in their abilities because they have not used them to satisfy their needs.
How stress manifests itself in teenagers
Adler called friendship, love and work the tasks of life. Even in early childhood, a person chooses his life path and its script, which he subsequently follows. For teenagers, this plan is further refined. The main goal always remains the desire to be the best; without satisfying this need and lack of compensation, a feeling of inferiority arises.
Parental influence
Mukhina V. believes that the foundations of deviant behavior are laid by parents during the period of child growth. During the period of close interaction with the child, the mother forms the child’s need for positive emotions and trust in people.
Trusting the achievements of humanity, the child masters them. At the same time, parents teach the child to maintain his isolation, which is important for the formation of individuality.
In the extreme version of isolation, the child feels alienated from the whole world. This problem is associated with a lack of personal position, leading to mistrust, withdrawal from communication and suicide attempts.
Isolation and appropriation are opposite elements of one mechanism on which the further development of the child’s personal qualities depends. In the same situations, a person can experience both envy and gregariousness, as well as empathy and independence.
Teenagers complain about parental neglect
Behavior may be disrupted due to anomalies of character and temperament.
Psychologists Lichko A., Leongard K., Shmishek S. conducted research on character traits that can cause deviant behavior. A tendency to change mood for no apparent reason, weakness of will, superficial relationships, and fear almost always lead to maladjustment and a sharp release of negative emotions in adolescents. An abnormal character is formed by consolidating negative actions in frequently repeated situations.
