Specific Features of Social Groups of Teenagers with Deviant Orientation

Abstract

The theoretical analysis of the category “social group” has been presented in the article
from the position of sociological and general psychological approaches. The conclusion
has been drawn that a social group – is the system of activity that serves, firstly, as the
social environment acting on a person and, secondly, he himself experiences other
individuals’ influence. Because of this, group influences serve as a mediating system
between a person and society. Social groups of teenagers with deviant orientation have
been identified. The analysis of content characteristics of such groups has been given,
their significance for each member of the group and teenagers’ orientation to interaction
within this group. The conclusion was made that firstly, teenagers who are prone to
deviant behavior, possess personal and individual specific features which determine the
manifestation of deviations in their behavior and getting into groups of teenagers with
similar specific features. Secondly, groups satisfy the needs of teenagers who are prone to
deviant behavior, in communication, in spending their free time, self-assertion. Further,
due to elevated conformity, teenage groups with deviant orientation become more rigidly
structured and closed for other people, which leads to teenagers’ withdrawal who are
prone to deviant behavior, in the framework of the anti-social environment. And finally,
staying in the deviant milieu leads to the teenager’s personality deformation which is
expressed in a greater rupture of interpersonal ties with the positive milieu, as well as the
person’s orientation development to deviant behavior. This article can be of use to
teachers of educational institutions and practical psychologists.