Criteria for socio-normative evaluations among adolescents

Statement of the problem. The article analyzes results of the study aimed at studying perceptions of contemporary adolescents about the norms of behavior in society. To conduct the research, we developed a questionnaire consisting of questions about what one can be proud of, what can be considered unworthy and even unacceptable in the behavior of a teenager. The questionnaire was designed in a way to take into account opinion of adolescents themselves, their friends, peers and adults of importance from the environment of minors. The purpose of the article is to provide grounds for the selected criteria on social and normative assessment of adolescent behavior, to share the study results, to analyze them through the prism of personal characteristics of the respondents. The research methodology includes analysis of theoretical materials and research works of foreign and Russian scientists and analysis of experience obtained by specialists working with adolescents to correct their deviant behavior. Despite available in-depth studies of deviance issues (Yu.A. Kleiberg, A.I. Zakharov, I.S.Kon, B.A. Krutetsky, A.G. Kovalev, K. Leongard, A.E. Lichko, I.F. Myagkov, V.N. Myasishchev, I.L. Nevsky, E.Sh. Natanzon, V.S.Stepanov, D.I. Feldshtein, E.G. Eidimiller, V.V. Yustitsky, etc.), there are unresolved issues in terms of perceptions of contemporary adolescents about socially approved behavioral manifestations and assessment of their own behavior and behavior of other people. Research results. Based on the literature analysis, the main criteria for assessing behavioral manifestations were identified. For this, adolescents used the following terms “criminality”, “personal weakness / strength”, “ethics”, “relationships”, “social success / failure”. The study considers various options of personal attitude of adolescents to each of these characteristics. When filling out questionnaires, adolescents chose a description for each of these terms, based on the concepts associated with them. The study resulted in identifying common answers, frequency of their use by adolescents and content analysis of the answers. Conclusion. Based on the results of the study of contemporary adolescents' perceptions about behavioral manifestations of a person in society, it was revealed that there are deficiencies in understanding and distinguishing the essence of the selected terms. This is evidenced by difficulties in choosing a description of each term. Quantitative indicators demonstrate that the majority of adolescents are characterized by the “I am an adult” position and a hypertrophied desire for independence. Answering the questions about what a person can be proud of, most adolescents emphasize the importance of the category of “relationship” and “social success”. Assessing the category of “ethics” adolescents give specific examples of “anti-ethical norms” and refer this to unacceptable and unworthy behavior. Also, description of the term “criminality” refers to “inadmissibility of actions” by the majority of adolescents. “Criminality” is also described by them in terms of theft, murder, violence, and banditry. Answers to the same questions by adults who are most important in the life of adolescents are of the utmost interest. About half of the adult respondents demonstrated the lack of mature perceptions about behavioral manifestations of a person and criteria for an adequate assessment of the actions of other people.