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Influence Of Groupthink, Group Cohesiveness And Deindividuation On Criminal Behaviour Tendency Amongst Undergraduates
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Sexual harassment is regarded a
criminal behaviour due to its negative impact on most undergraduates.
Sexual harassment is defined as unsolicited, unwelcome and
unreciprocated sexual overture from a person to elicit unwanted sexual
relations from another person Aluede (2000). Sexual harassment could be
physical (rape) and verbally.
According to Scheffer (2000) sexual
harassment in schools is described as an unwelcome behaviour of a sexual
nature that makes one uncomfortable, fearful or powerless, and may
interfere with the victim’s academic work. Various causes which could
lead to the antecedent of sexual harassment include; lack of norms of
morality, personality disorder, abuse of power, indecent dressing and
lust. This has been the major source of sexual harassment amongst
undergraduates. The reason why this behaviour is not frequently reported
is that, the victims are always embarrassed due to the stigmatization
accompanied by it, reporting becomes impossible.
Vices amongst
undergraduates have been a calamity to the university system. It is
quite difficult to see a university that is void of vices. Vice is a
latin word ‘victium’ meaning defect. It is defined as a bad habit or
immoral activities. Examples include; prostitution, cultism, murder,
disruption of properties and a few to mention. Emphasis would be based
on cultism. Cultism has grown rapidly in recent years in some
universities. In the University of Uyo, cases of cultism have being a
serious problem. Students have reportedly being harassed by cult groups
around the campuses. Inyang (2017), states; cultists tends to intimidate
other students and lecturers into carrying out their will, thereby
causing terror in the university system.
Peer pressure is a major
cause of youth’s involvement in social vices. Students especially the
100 level students are mostly victims of cultist activities. Students
join cult for some reasons such as; the quest for power, desire for
revenge, search for protection and peer group influence. Cultism in
Nigeria has been a major cause of death. In May 2017, a student of the
Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) and other unidentified
persons were killed in a cult clash between the Vikings and the KKK
confraternity.
Based on the following factors that could lead to the
antecedent of criminal behaviour, it is pertinent to note that, group
dynamics plays a major role in the antecedent of criminal behaviour.
A factor that may influence criminal behaviour tendency is groupthink.
Groupthink
as a psychological concept was initially established in 1972 by Irving
Janis. He used the term to describe how certain conditions can lead a
group to be highly satisfied with what turns out to be an ineffective
decision. Groupthink is a mode of thinking in which members of a highly
cohesive group strive for unanimity and consensus, overriding their
motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action,
Janis (1982). This phenomenon according to Janis documented some
symptoms such as; stereotyped views of out-groups; negative view of
‘enemy’ make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary or
illusion of unanimity.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The study investigated the influence of Groupthink, Group cohesiveness and Deindividuation on Criminal behaviour of Undergraduates of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Apkaden campus, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area and Obio Akpa campus, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A total of three hundred and twelve (312) undergraduates made up of 166 males (54.1%) and 146 females (45.9%). These participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Their ages ranged ... Continue reading---
