CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, RESILIENCE AND LOCUS OF CONTROL AS PREDICTORS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOURS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The exhibition of deviant behavior by secondary school students such as stealing, lying, fighting, prostitution, smoking etc. are not traits learnt in the classroom through formal learning but as result of misdirection and the inability to control the event of early childhood. Children exposed to high risk condition such as exposure to maternal depression or community violence, physical abuse or death of a parent. Substance abuse in a parent, Separation from a parent or caregiver, Sexual abuse, Stress caused by poverty, Sudden and/or serious medical condition, Violence (at home, at school, or in the surrounding community). Accidents. Bullying/cyber etc. manifest greater maladjustment than those who do not; thereby leading to deviant behavior. It has been observed that quite number of students in secondary schools exercise deviant behavior which is the violation of the norms and regulations of the society. Deviant behavior is defined as deviation from laid down rules and regulations of the community or principle of a social behavior such as engaging in crime, drunkenness, indiscipline in school, home prostitution, cultism, gambling etc. However, some children show resilience than others who have gone through trauma in earlier in life. Such children are able to better convert the ill conditions of the past into a positive better future. The school, parents, and the government have significant role to play in rebuilding the life of this victims. The study seeks to proffer an appraisal of childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviours among secondary school students.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Trauma which arises as a result of events in the early years of a child exact significant effect on the child’s behavior. Children exposed to high risk condition such as Exposure to maternal depression or community violence, physical abuse or death of a parent.   Substance abuse in a parent,   Separation from a parent or caregiver, Sexual abuse, Stress caused by poverty, Sudden and/or serious medical condition, Violence (at home, at school, or in the surrounding community). Accidents, Bullying/cyber bullying, domestic violence, parent with a mental illness, incarcerated. Emotional abuse or neglect, War/terrorism  etc., manifest greater  maladjustment than those who do not; Thereby leading to deviant behavior. Which is the violation of the norms and laws of the society such as crime, drunkenness, indiscipline in school, home prostitution, cultism, gambling etc.? However, some children show resilience than others who have gone through trauma earlier in life. Such children are able to better convert the ill conditions of the past into a positive better future. The school, parents, and the government have significant role to play in its rebuilding the life of this victims. The problem confronting the study is investigating childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviors among secondary school students.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main study objective is to investigate childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviors among secondary school students; While, the specific objectives of the study include;

1. To appraise the concept of childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control.
2. To determine the deviant behaviors among secondary school children.
3. To investigate the relationship between childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviors among secondary school students.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control?
2. What is the deviant behaviors among secondary school children?
3. What is the relationship between childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviors among secondary school students?

1.5     RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho1: There is no significant relationship between childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviours among secondary school students.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study seeks to provide an evaluative appraisal of the relationship between childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviors among secondary school students. The study shall be of immense value for the counseling of secondary school students.

1.7     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study focuses on the appraisal of childhood trauma, resilience and locus of control as predictors of deviant behaviors among secondary school students.

1.8     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study was confronted with logistic and geographical constraint.

1.9     DEFINITION OF TERMS

RESILIENCE:Resilience is the ability to overcome adverse condition of life and return to a positive state of life. It is a process of positive adaptation in the face of despite significant adversity or trauma.

ADVERSITY: Adversity is the negative condition of live which may turn out to affect someones behavior such as the exposure to community violence, poverty, war etc.

LOCUS OF CONTROL: Locus of control is the extent to which an individual can have control over the outcome of traumatic events in their lives, as opposed to external forces beyond their control.

POSITIVE ADAPTATION: Positive adaptation refers to a better adjustment in the face of trauma.

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