THE NATURE OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR OF JUVENILES

Abstract

In recent years the number of juvenile offenders, teenagers with deviant behaviour has increased in Ukraine. Thus, the problem of finding effective ways for preventive work with them is actualized. The aim of this article is to investigate the nature of deviant behaviour of juveniles. It was revealed that the phenomenon of deviant behaviour belongs to such a class of phenomena that can be studied only as a result of joint efforts of researchers – representatives of many sciences, namely sociology, psychology, law, medicine etc., which in their totality form a specialized branch of knowledge – deviantology. The subject of its study is all forms of social pathology, including crimes, offenses, alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution, suicide, etc. Analysis of scientific literature proves that most researchers considering the problem of deviance associate this concept with the concept of a social norm. Such norms are formed in all spheres of public life and regulate all types of social relations, ensuring, on the one hand, relative universality of human behaviour, and, on the other hand, providing implementation of social control, which involves the use of various negative sanctions. Social norms are a set of fixed verbal or symbolic requirements and expectations of social community for behaviour and activities of its representatives, as well as the means of social regulation of the individual and the group’s behaviour. As a result of insufficient formation of ideological principles, lack of consistent attitudes and value orientations, juveniles are thought to be most vulnerable to different types of deviations. Deviant behaviour of juveniles may be manifested as violations of discipline, reluctance to learn, alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution as well as serious offenses and crimes involving criminal measures. Juvenile deviations are caused by a range of factors: socio-economic; psychological and pedagogical; medical and biological. Research methods used: the analysis of scientific literature, synthesis, abstraction, generalization.