ABSTRACT

This study examined personality variables and delinquent behaviour of adolescents in selected secondary schools in Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State. In this study, relevant and extensive literatures were reviewed under sub-headings. The descriptive survey research design was used to assess the opinions of selected respondents with the application of the questionnaire and the sampling technique. A total of 120 (One hundred and twenty) respondents were selected and used as samples in this study. These representatives represent the entire population of the study. Also, a total of four null hypotheses were formulated and tested in the study, using the independent t-test and the Pearson Product Moment Statistical tools at 0.05 level of significance. At the end of the analyses, the following results were obtained: There is a significant relationship between youth personality and their delinquent behaviour; There is a significant gender difference in the personality of the adolescents in school; There is a significant gender difference in the delinquent behaviour of the youths in school; and finally, it was found that there is a significant difference between the behaviour of youths who are delinquent and those who are not.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1    Introduction: Background to the Study

What makes us think, what makes the way we are, what makes us exhibit a particular attitude or behaviour that is peculiar to an individual is the personality of that individual. According to Onuoha (1994) personality is the wholesome attribute or behaviour of a person.

Personality is a term that comes from the latin word “Persona” which means “mask” unlike a mask that one can put on or take off the tem. Personality implies something stable. It consists of all the consistent ways in which the behaviour of one person differs from that of the others person (Darey, 1982). According to Eysenck (1967) personality in actual sense resides within the individual the idea that personality has a substrate is as old as the ancient Greek theory of the four humours. According to Eysenck, personality may be reduce to the three biological based dimensions of individual variation – extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism. Eysenck (1967) claimed that differences in the degrees of extraverted behaviour are the result of functional differences in a particular structure in the brain. He further theorized that introverts are characteristically more aroused than the extroverts and that the same stimulus will produce a greater increase in arousal for introverts than for extroverts.

According to Omoegun (1996) the adolescence child manifest a number of problems which are characteristic of the adolescent stage. This is a distinctive stage the personality development by significant changes conditions of growth and extensive reorganization of personality structure. This cuts across all cultures with varying degree of stress being encountered due to the implications of sexual maturity, sex role and new personality traits with adults role and status in the community.

According to Anayo (2000) adolescent in schools behave differently. Some youths adopts the life of introversion whereby they are not out going not out spoken shy, moody avoid association etc. while some youths who are extroverts are outgoing, spoken always, mix-up with friends and are more sociable than the introverts. The problem of delinquency among youths in schools refers to the problem of wrong-doing by young person, it involves the problem of truancy, stealing, vandalism, terrorism, drug addiction and other behaviour that are against the social norms.

Adolescents to more in groups because they are in the era of peer group relationship, they want to be seen acting in conformity with their peers however unconventional such act may be (Onwuama, 1988). Hence, the need for some understanding and responsible adults of the background who would serves as role models for the young stars to redirect their energies towards the right channel that would produce rewarding and satisfactory pattern of behaviour in them.

This study sets out to identify the implication of personality on youths delinquent behaviour in our society. This is because the youths are known as the leaders of tomorrow and their negative behaviour will affect the entire society and mankind. Hence, when the youth said to adopt the correct behaviour, it makes them to break rules and regulation in the society and this cause deviation amongst the youths. No wonder stealing examination, mal-practice, sexual promiscuity, rape, abortions and youth pregnancy abound in the society. This study is therefore, very important because it will help educators to know exactly what to do in order to render positive assistance to the adolescents who are involved in delinquent behaviour, or acts of indiscipline. It will also guide the career counselling to know what tools to use in counselling the adolescent who are involved in delinquent behaviours. This will help the school counsellor to know how to direct the youths in order to manifest the desired or adaptive behaviours in the community.

This study will help to create more awareness to the society as a whole the findings and recommendation of this study will enable the society to deal or handle the adolescents so that they will manifest positive characters which will enable them to achieve their expected in life and join hands to build a strong progressive Nigeria in future.

1.2Statement of the Problem

The problem inherent in personality types and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students cannot be overemphasized. The adolescents manifest a number of problem which are characteristic of the adolescent stage. Adolescent in schools behave differently. Some are extroverts outgoing, out spoken, friendly and restless while some of them are introverts who adopt the life of shyness, avoiding associations with peers and other members of the community. The problem of delinquency among youths in the schools involve the problems of doing wrong disobeying constructed authorities and violating the laid down rules and regulations instituted by the adults on a given society. These problems are stealing, prostitution, fighting, vandalization and terrorisms, the use of hard drugs and alcoholism, which often times lead to indiscriminate sexual activities rape, and sexual harassment which abounds in our schools and society. There is a degeneration of the society’s norms and expected values due to negative personalities of the youths.

The above identified problem gave rise to the study of the relationship between some personality types and delinquent behaviour among adolescents in schools and the society.

1.3Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between personality and delinquent behaviour among some selected secondary schools in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State. The minor objectives include to:

1.            Find out whether there is a relationship between youths’ personality of the youths and their delinquent behaviour.

2.            Examine whether there is difference between youths who have delinquent behavour and those who are not.

3.            Investigate whether there is gender difference in delinquent personality of the adolescents in schools.

4.            Identify the delinquent behaviours of the youth in the society.

5.            Profer solution to the problems of youth delinquent behaviour.

1.4Research Questions

The following research questions will be raised in this study:

1.            Is there any relationship between youth personality and their delinquent behaviour?

2.            To what extend will the youths who are delinquent differ from those who are not?

3.            Is there any gender difference in the personality of youths in schools?

4.            How can the problems of delinquent behaviour among youth be identified?

5.            To what extend can the problems of youth delinquent behaviour be solved?

1.5Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses will be formulated and tested in the study:

1.            There will be no significant relationship between youth personality and their delinquent behaviour.

2.            There will be no significant gender difference in delinquent personality of the adolescents in schools.

3.            There will be no significant gender difference in the delinquent behaviour of the youths in society.

4.            There will be no significant difference between the behaviour of youths who are delinquent and those who are not.

1.6Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to the following individuals:

(1)         Students: Students would benefit from this study because, its recommendations and findings will help them to be in the-know regarding the problem of delinquent behaviour. This study will enable students to avoid behaviours that are inimical to values and expected norms in a decent social setting.

(2)         Teachers would be able to know more of the effects of delinquent behaviours and the different types of personalities students exhibit in the school. The recommendations and findings of this study would in a way, proffer solution to the problem of delinquent behaviour amongst students.

(3)         Parents would be able to know more through this study, the behaviours that are delinquent, the best way to teach their children and wards on how to avoid them.

(4)         The society will see this study as a veritable avenue to have indepth knowledge on what constitutes delinquent behaviour among adolescents in school etc.

1.7Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study will cover the relationship between some personality types and delinquent behaviour among selected secondary school students in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The research will cover Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State since the researcher is making use of only Shomolu Local Government Area, the generalizability of the findings is limited to the local government area in question.

However, this study cannot present all the delinquent problems exhibited by all adolescence in Lagos State secondary schools considering the scope, the generalizability of the findings can only be applicable to the other adolescences or youths in similar conditions. There could be other problems that manifest among adolescents in Lagos State, but this study will be restricted to the one’s highlighted in the hypotheses. Other limitations will be in term of lack of finance, time frame and other logistics in carrying out this study will pose as hindrance.

1.8Definition of Terms

Some terms were defined in this study thus:

1.            Relationship: This refers to mutual understanding, love and affection between two individuals. It is also the similarity between two variables. It is the association that exists between two things. 

2.            Personality: This is referred to what makes human think or act the way they do. It is the individual differences personality of an individual is what makes the individual unique or different from other individuals in the society. It is the wholeness or a complete attribute of a person.

3.            Delinquency: This is the problem of wrong doing among adolescent of school-going age. Delinquency means disrespect to law and other by the youths. It is the disregard of laid down, values and regulations in the society. It leads to stealing terrorism abuse of drugs, fighting, vandalism, prostitution and other vices that run counters to the societies laid down rules and regulations.

4.            Behaviour: This is the way an individual carries him/her self in an environment where he/she lives. It is a totality of one’s way of life.  

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