Deviant Sexuality in Adolesence

¶ … Dishion, Ha & Veronneau (2012), adolescent problem behavior tends to peak in middle and late adolescence, for reasons largely attributed to peer pressures combined with sexual maturation (Dishion, Ha & Veronneau, 2012, p.4). The hypothesis of this quantitative article was that the phenomenon of clustering would be observed in an analysis of deviant behavior: i.e., that clusters of specific problems would be observed amongst peer groups versus general deviance, supporting the idea that deviant behavior was at least partially social in nature.

The specific focus of the study was sexual behavior, including early promiscuity and childbearing, although other potentially problematic behaviors were also studied, including arguing or talking back or aggressive behavior, as reported by parents and teachers. The model of the study was longitudinal in nature. 998 participants were assessed at age eleven and at different developmental points throughout the next eleven years. Parent, student, and teacher self-reports were all used for data, along with assessments of subjects such as parent income and childbirth, which could be objectively documented.

The underlining theoretical basis of the study was social learning theory or the idea that human beings are social animals who quite literally learn by observing and mimicking the behavior of others. The desire to fit in can be particularly powerful for adolescents. Although biological factors such as early puberty were weakly correlated with early sexual activity, the predominant findings were that peer influence was the most significant factor upon sexual behavior.

Another paradigm influencing the research perspective was that of a life history perspective, which suggests that early experiences of the adolescent can shape later behaviors. Self-organization into peer groups combined with biological selection for certain behaviors such as aggression in males can also be influential in determining later adolescent behavior (Dishion, Ha & Veronneau, 2012, p.6).

"If self-organization into peer groups is critical to sexual selection, a developmental history of marginal peer relationships and attenuated family ties may be particularly salient as a promotive condition for the formation of deviant peer groups" (Dishion, Ha & Veronneau, 2012, p.6). Low socioeconomic status has similarly been strongly correlated with early sexual and family milestones such as pregnancy, again, the authors suggested, because this can result in non-deviant peer rejection and association with deviant peer groups where early sexual behavior is normalized.

Although the study was not specifically designed to assess the validness of a particular intervention strategy, to ethically justify using the participants" information, "Half of the study sample were randomly assigned to a family-centered ecological approach to family intervention and treatment (EcoFIT)" (Dishion, Ha & Veronneau, 2012, p.9). At the end of the study, there was significantly less problematic behavior among the intervention group members versus the control.

Despite this finding, the article did not draw the conclusion that the specific program structure was helpful enough to justify a widespread intervention, given that the study was not designed to demonstrate that the program was useful for all participants, merely that intervening in some form was more helpful than not intervening at all. Still, this supports the authors' central premise, given that the program provided role models and support beyond that of the young participant's deviant peer groups.

Furthermore, the program also provided family support to counterbalance the negative conflicts that resulted in adolescent alienation and identification with a deviant peer group to the exclusion of the child's parents. A number of significant demographic patterns were noted over the course of the study. Males reported higher ratings of deviant peer clusters than females and there were different patterns observable by race in terms of children's relationships with parents.

"Specifically, European-Americans reported experiencing more monitoring from their parents, whereas African-Americans reported higher levels of positive family relations and family conflicts" (Dishion, Ha & Veronneau, 2012, p.14). African-Americans also reported somewhat earlier physical maturation, earlier initiation of sexual activities, and more pregnancies but no differences were noted regarding safe sexual practices between ethnic groups (Dishion, Ha & Veronneau, 2012, p.15). European-Americans reported somewhat higher socioeconomic status than African-Americans.

Still, overall, the article underlined that the evolutionary drive for reproduction combined with an absence of positive normative role models results in deviance, early sexual promiscuity, and problematic sexual behavior for all groups. "Evolutionary function of the developmental processes" which coincides with a desire for peer approval can result.