Introduction
Childhood is one of the main periods of human life when people build new skills and develop their mental condition. Furthermore, individual values and beliefs are created and maintained throughout the lifetime. Different social factors should be studied to understand the sociology of human existence. Additionally, this information can help explain the upbringing process and transition into adulthood.
One crucial area that should stay under strong attention is adolescent deviance. Behavioral aspects can develop specific implications for the person and society in general. Deviance is driven by the changes in technology, and cyberbullying has a massive influence on young people these days. The paper will show the main sociological factors of childhood while cooperating with families, peers, and communities and talk about adolescent deviance as the cause of cyberbullying.
Family Influences
Families help young people shape unique values and behaviors by being role models. Children may tend to act the same way as their parents, and it is important to understand the causes of this phenomenon. According to Buehler (2020), one of the main causes of shifts is the family structure. For instance, the upbringing depends on single-parent or two-parent households, and socioeconomic issues may be faced differently.
Depending on the family structure, two types of parenting appear, and the most popular are authoritative and authoritarian. Authoritative parents usually provide warmth and support in family communication. Moreover, open communication is prioritized in these families, and children are unafraid to express their emotions or concerns. Finally, expectations are reasonable, and parents support the audience without being overly controlling.
However, authoritarian parents are the opposite of authoritative in many ways. They always make strict rules and develop punishments (Kuppens & Ceulemans, 2019). Children growing up in different environments shape specific perceptions of parental help and guidance when they face challenges. For example, some children start relying on support, while others decide to cope with the issues individually. Additionally, children with authoritarian parents may struggle to make decisions when they grow up and suffer from low self-esteem. Therefore, specific rules in families can create both traumatic and positive experiences.
Peer Influences
The development of social relationships is one of the most important aspects for young people. Nevertheless, complexities may appear as the influence of peers is strong. Adolescents always seek social acceptance and validation from friends (Andrews et al., 2020). Peer rejection can cause mental health issues as such feelings as loneliness, isolation, and sadness can appear. Furthermore, the vulnerability can increase, and social acceptance may become the biggest concern.
Peer pressure can also develop a negative perception of body or style, leading to a diminished sense of self-worth in bullied children. Persistent peer rejection may cause issues with long-term social development and reflect relationship building, trust level, and engagement in healthy social interactions. Finally, adolescents can develop unique defensive mechanisms, such as avoidance of communication and poor emotional growth, which are not beneficial for humans.
Cyberbullying
With the development of the Internet and social media, children started spending a lot of time online. Even though there are many benefits to using Internet platforms, cyberbullying from peers is becoming dangerous (Zhu et al., 2021). The anonymity facilities promoted by the Internet impact children’s mental health, and the connection between cyberbullying and anxiety is increasing. The development of a child’s mind is also shifted as unrealistic ideas shape perceptions of themselves. Consequently, these ideas can lead to participation in harmful groups and cause adolescent deviance.
Community Influences
Deviant behavior can also be affected by the complexity of community structures. Surrounding people can build a sense of community or, vice versa, create trauma. The safety level affects adolescents’ actions, as high crime rates can lead to stress and anxiety that promote untypical behavior. According to Baranyi et al. (2021), children start experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and cannot concentrate on their normal daily activities if they witness a crime.
Social isolation and depression can also be developed due to unsafe surroundings. Growing up in such neighborhoods can increase the risk of chronic diseases and violence during different stages of development. All these issues can lead to financial problems and loss of property value, making adolescents homeless.
Even though children growing up in a negative community cannot change many things, they might start attending free youth programs and centers. A safe place is provided, and experts control the performance of every adolescent at every stage. Mental health is also prioritized during sessions; every emotional struggle is studied in depth (Shakarchi & Collins, 2019). To increase the sense of belonging, teachers working in schools located in criminal districts should promote positive relationships and support if problems outside the school appear.
Conclusion
In conclusion, young people’s behavior and mental health are developed through interaction with families, peers, and communities. Parents are the primary support and surroundings responsible for the creation of thoughts and values that affect the socioeconomic status in the future. A positive environment can promote stability in life, while negative relationships may increase the possibility of deviant behavior.
In some cases, peers may stay as role models for children, and choosing a criminal group might have an undesirable influence on the growing process. The pressure might be massive as social acceptance is crucial for young people. Therefore, to gain popularity, children may start doing illegal activities and join suspicious social groups.
To avoid this issue, adolescents can join communities by participating in helpful and prospective events that stabilize their psychological conditions and allow them to make high-quality connections. By understanding and addressing problems related to neighborhood safety and education, children and teenagers can surround themselves with a positive environment where they feel supported and motivated. Consequently, the following generations will benefit from the success of their ancestors.
References
Andrews, J. L., Foulkes, L., & Blakemore, S. (2020). Peer influence in adolescence: Public-health implications for COVID-19. Science & Society, 24(8), 585-587. Web.
Baranyi, G., Di Marco, M. H., & Russ, T. C. (2021). The impact of neighborhood crime on mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 282. Web.
Buehler, C. (2020). Family process and children’s and adolescents’ well-being. Journal of marriage and family, 82(1), 145-174. Web.
Kuppens, S., & Ceulemans, E. (2019). Parenting styles: A closer look at a well-known concept. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28, 168-181. Web.
Shakarchi, A. F., & Collins, M. E. (2019). Referral to community care from school-based eye care programs in the United States. Survey of Ophthalmology, 64(6), 858-867. Web.
Zhu, C., Huang, S., & Evans, R. (2021). Cyberbullying among adolescents and children: A comprehensive review of the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures. Frontiers Public Health, 9. Web.