Deviant behavior and self-enhancement in adolescence

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Adolescent Development

Background:

• Self-derogation is a significant concern in adolescent psychology.
• Understanding factors that mitigate negative self-perception is crucial for mental health.
• Previous research has not fully explored the impact of deviant behaviors on self-derogation in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that deviant response patterns reduce self-derogation in adolescents with initially high self-derogation.
• To examine how socioeconomic status (SES) and gender influence this relationship.
• To identify conditions under which deviant behaviors may serve a self-protective function.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal survey study of adolescents.
• Analysis of deviant response patterns (e.g., alcohol and drug abuse, delinquency).
• Statistical examination of changes in self-derogation scores over time, stratified by SES, gender, and behavior adoption.

Main Results:

• Initially high self-derogating males showed significant decreases in self-derogation when adopting deviant patterns compatible with social roles.
• Narcotics use was linked to decreased self-derogation in higher SES females.
• No deviant pattern was significantly related to decreased self-derogation in lower SES females, except for specific circumstances.

Conclusions:

• Deviant behaviors can function to reduce self-rejecting feelings in initially highly self-derogating adolescents, particularly males, under specific social and psychological conditions.
• The compatibility of deviant behaviors with valued social roles and the ability to manage social responses are key moderators.
• Gender and socioeconomic status significantly influence the relationship between deviant behaviors and self-derogation reduction.