In the newly published Duke University study, "The 'Cascading Effect' Of Childhood Experiences"[2008, November 17], Dr. Kenneth A. Dodge explores common childhood factors that later influence violent tendencies in teenage years. The study suggests early childhood interventions can prevent later problems for teenagers, but parents of teenagers can't go back in time and correct those mistakes. What parents can do to help their teenagers right now comes down to a Japanese proverb, "When the character of a man in not clear to you, look at his friends."
How Professionals Define "Deviant Peers"
When researchers, counselors, teachers, and other experts talk about "deviant behavior", they are talking about a specific set of conditions. Not only are deviant teenagers going against social norms, they are consistently looking for and are motivated by opportunities to buck social behavior expectations. For a deep exploration of the definition of deviant teenagers, parents may be interested in reading Social Deviance: Testing a General Theory by Howard B. Kaplan and Robert J. Johnson [Plenum Publishing Corporation 2001].
Deviant Teenagers Can Not Hide Behavior
A dominant factor in deciding if someone is deviant is determining who is aware of the deviance. Deviant teens depend on the social support of their friends in doing things that are unacceptable. In order to be "deviant" (as opposed to "anti-social"), a teenager must be making unwise choices with the support of peers, such as stealing, drug use, or violent behaviors.
Not only are friends aware of the unacceptable and often illegal behaviors, even the other students at school who are not friends can identify peers with social deviance. Unlike the supportive friends, these peers do not consider the exploits entertaining or healthy. They see deviant peers as the students more likely to bring weapons to school, commit acts of violence, use drugs, damage property, bully, and cause problems.
The Problem of Deviant Friendships
When parents discover that their teenagers are friends with someone who breaks rules to entertain friends, they need to pay careful attention to that person and begin taking steps to discourage that friendship. Deviant peers present a danger to their friends. Teenagers in deviant peer groups will have active conflicts with authority. This means that these teenagers will go beyond questioning authority or even being disrespectful of authority. Teenagers who have the support of a deviant friend may seek conflicts with parents, school authorities, legal authorities (such as law enforcement), and social authorities (such as businesses).
How Parents Can Help Avoid and Prevent Deviant Friendships
Teenagers with involved parents have fewer problems with deviant friendship. Parents must
- Monitor teenage whereabouts
- Supervise Behavior
- Be aware of how teenagers manage their time
- Be involved with the school, including extra-curricular activities and school events.
Deviant peers are more than just "bad friends". No parent can expect to understand all of their children's friendship choices, and all people are flawed. Just because a teenage friend makes unwise choices does not mean that the friendship should end. In fact, teenagers can encourage good behavior and positive choices with friends. However, deviant friends present more negative opportunities than positive opportunities, and those friendships should be actively discouraged. Parents should look at combating peer pressure, communication, and dealing with bullying as they help their teenagers move social groups from one that encourages deviance to one that encourages healthy choices.
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