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.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract v
Table of contents vi
CHAPTER ONE 1
1.1
Introduction: Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Purpose of Study 5
1.4 Research Questions 5
1.5 Research Hypotheses 6
1.6 Significance of the Study 7
1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study 7
1.8 Definition of Terms 8
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 10
2.1
Concept and Determinants of Personality 10
2.2
Theories of Personality 15
2.3
Personality Assessment 23
2.4
Concept and Nature of Delinquency 29
2.5
Causes of Delinquency 32
2.6
Adolescent and Youth Problems as one of the Contemporary
Life
Events Requiring Counselling Services 34
2.7
Adolescent and Youth Adjustment Behaviour Problems 37
CHAPTER THREE:
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 40
3.1 Research
Design 40
3.2
Location 41
3.3
Population of
the Study 41
3.4
Sample and
Sampling Technique 42
3.5
Research
Instrument 42
3.6
Validity of
Instrument 42
3.7
Reliability of
the Instrument 43
3.8
Procedure for
Data Collection 43
3.9
Data Analysis
Method 43
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION
AND
PRESENTATION RESULT 44
4.1 Introduction
44
4.2
Descriptive
Analyses of Bio-Data of Respondents
According to Age, Sex, Religion and Class 44
4.3
Testing of
Hypotheses 46
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION
OF FINDINGS, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 50
5.1 Introduction
50
5.2
Discussion of
Findings 50
5.3
Summary of the
Study 53
5.4
Conclusions 55
5.5
Recommendations
55
References 58
Appendix 61
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.
1.2
Statement
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.
1.3
Purpose
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.
1.4
Research
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?
1.5
Research
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.
1.6
Significance
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.
1.7
Scope
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.
1.8
Definition
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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