Abstract

This study was to find out “Peer pressure as a determinant of young people’s behaviour in the University of Buea” The study was aimed at finding out peer pressure influences the behaviour of youths in the University of Buea. Specifically, the study aimed to find out the influence of romantic relationships, indecent, delinquent behaviour and regular attendance of classes on students’ behaviour in the University of Buea.

The study was conducted in the University of Buea with 120 students (40 EPY, 40 EFA and 40 CST level 400) constituting the selected sample for the study. The research instrument for the study was a structured close ended questionnaire consisting of 20 research questions to find out how peer pressure influences the behaviour of youths in the University of Buea.

The simple descriptive statistic was use to analysed this data collected from respondents. The main findings of this study revealed that peer pressure influences the behaviour of youths in the University of Buea. Thus, the specific findings revealed that indecent dressing does not affect young people’s sexual behaviour; peer pressure has no tangible impact on students’ promiscuous behaviour in the University of Buea.

Besides, peer pressure influences students’ indecent dressing in the University of Buea. It was recommended that school authority should do well to counsel students on the ills of promiscuity, indecent dressing, sexual language and sexual relationship and their effects on their academic achievements.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Historically, more than centuries ago educational activities have geared towards ensuring that students achieve a mastery of educational objectives which has been determined by their level of peer pressure, time management as students’ success are reflected on the learning. It was traced that adolescent have a higher tendency to experience peer pressure in school which might affect their behaviour. (Zang, 2012).

Frienda okay played a large role in the socio- emotional development of adolescents, Allen, (2005). Their influence begins at an early age and increases through the teenage years. It is natural, healthy and important for adolescent to have and rely on friends as they grow and mature. According to Hardcastle, (2002),a peer could be anyone you look up to in behaviour or someone who you would think is equal to your age or ability . Peer pressure according to Hartney, (2011) refresh to the influences that peers can have on each other.

Winifried, (2010) also defines peer pressure as an emotional or mental force from people belonging to the same social group / class such as age, grade to act or behave in a manner similar to themselves. During the period of adolescent, young people behind to separate themselves from their parents and families to join their friends if same age, an adolescent spends most of his or her peer group (Vishalai, 2008).

Adolescent are mostly influenced by their Friends in such a way that their learning is greatly affected, Studies has shown that the stage of adolescence tends to be most difficult one throughout the life cycle for it is characterized by dramatic, physical, psychological and social changes that are often or well understood by adults. During this transition, the adolescents face the dilemma of a desire to become socially acceptable adults. Adolescents are members of a minority group at home. But in their peers’ groups, their status is equal to that of others in the group. Adolescents are mostly freed from adult control (over protection)

Lindergreen (1980), specifies on the aspect that adolescents desire freedom as they turn teens. Peer groups with which the adolescents relate provides social references points for these adolescents. Palmer, (2005) noted that peer group are among the most significant social contents in adolescence. Adolescents often experience peer influence to be like other peers at a time when they are likely to be more undependable Tutamwebwa, (2006) and as such they don’t pay attention in learning.

Many years ago, peer pressure was more of positive than negative influence. Parents could freely and confidently allow their young teenagers / adults mingle with their age mates But today it is different, because peer pressure is most likely to be negative than positive especially in the 21st century. Peer pressure has positive effects when adolescents are pressured by the peers towards positive effects when adolescents are pressured by the peer towards positive behaviours such as volunteering for charity or excelling in learning Kellie, (2013).

However, there is negative peers’ pressure, which is encouraging one another to skip classes, steal, cheat, and gamble, use of drugs or alcohol or take part in other risky behaviours. This negative peer pressure usually leads to decision to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. In our present society, adolescents are very vulnerable to peer pressure because they are at a developmental stage.

Equally, gender plays a great role in peer influence and student’s behaviour. The world health organization (W.H.O), (2010), sees gender as socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities that a particular society considers. Therefore, the kind of gender an adolescent associates with determines the influence on adolescent learning. In our society today, girls mostly interact with boys while boys with girls. Girls association with boys is most likely to be the best, but it tends to an intimate relationship.

Also, boys who associate with girls are usually seen as the best but end up dating at the end. Peer pressure plays an important role in adolescent learning and it performs / plays so many functions. There also exist so many types of peer pressure some of which are; direct ,indirect, unspoken, negative, spoken peer pressure ,just to name a few. Apart from these types of peer pressure, there also exist different forms of peer pressure / peer influence.

All of these leads to influencing adolescents learning. In as much as adolescents can’t stay without having peers due to wanting to belong, there are so many reasons why they would like to have peers. Some may be because they want to avoid rejection and gain social acceptance, a lack of structure at home, desire to fit in. The “everybody is doing it” form of pressure push adolescents to wrong doings. In all, Social media is a recap of peer pressure.

Conceptually, children and teenagers feel social pressure, to conform to the group of peers with whom they socialize. This peer pressure can influence how children dress, the kind of music they listen to, and the type of behaviour they engage in, including risky behaviours such as using drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and sex. Peer pressure to drink alcohol, take drugs or smoke cigarettes to appear cool and to involve in sexual activities is but normal (Koubek & Wickert, 2002). From middle school, children spend more time with their friends and less time with their parents.

With children from age eleven to fourteen, it is most common for members of these cliques to be of the same sex. Children will spend a lot of time with friends in their clique, interacting by going to the movies or the mall, talking on the telephone, or chatting on line with instant messaging. They know which kids belong to particular cliques and who the loners are. Within the cliques, talking about the opposite sex is popular as is making arrangements for out of school activities (Koubek & Wickert, 2002).

Children form several cliques while members of the cliques are close friends, members of the crowd outside a clique are casual acquaintances. Crowds are often large groups with common interests such as athletes (jocks), kids who like school (preppies), kids lacking good looks or social skills but who excel at particular intellectual interests (nerds), and drug users (druggies). Some kids give into peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they do not go along with the group.

Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that “everyone is doing it” may influence some kids to ignore their better judgment or their common sense. Peer pressure can be extremely strong and seductive. Experiments have shown how peer pressure can influence children to change their minds from what they know for sure is acceptable behaviour to unacceptable behaviour just because everyone else in their peer group is doing it.

In Cameroon like in other parts of the world, the negative influence of peers on the behaviour of students or adolescents seems to be extremely high. Some adolescents see peer pressure as a social activity that must be done at a certain level in life, others see it as a fast means to raise income when they are in need.

Peer pressure also occurs when a child’s or teen’s friends or other people of their age try to convince them to do something that is either harmful to their body or is against the law. Examples included drinking alcohol, taking drugs, smoking cigarettes, cutting classes, vandalizing, stealing and involving in sexual activities. Although teens usually know when something is bad for them, they often choose to do it because they want to be liked, to fit in, to be accepted, or because they ‘reaf raid they’ll be looked down upon or made fun of.

Some University of Buea students spend most of their precious times in night clubs, bars and hotels fulfilling their bodily desire instead to studying. This therefore also affects their attitude on regular school attendance and why not their academic performance. That is why more youths are infected with HIV/ AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as unwanted pregnancies that sometimes lead to abortion and sometimes loss of lives (Koubek & Wicket, 2002).

In addition, some communities in Cameron may create problems sometimes when peers influence each other to participate in deviant activities. For instance, a 15year old male student stabbed a mathematics teacher in a fight between the two in class in a Government High School Nkolbison in Yaoundé(CRTV) and several investigations carried out proved that, his peers were into violent activities which of course contributed to his behaviour .several studies have revealed connection between peer pressure and substance abuse (Flannery et al;1994, Dielman1994;), cigarette smoking especially in Molyko neighborhood where majority of its population are students who are adolescents (Newman, 1984) and early romantic relationship (Duncan Risks, 1992).

Theoretically, the study focuses on three theories  which are Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs Theory(1908),Erickson’s Social learning Theory(1968)and Albert Bandura’s social learning theory(1977).In this light, this theories are used to better elaborate on key concepts.

Abraham Maslow’s need’s Theory of learning stems from the Humanistic Theory, which is based on some premises: The first is that learning will happen when the educator (teacher) acting as a facilitator, establishes an atmosphere in which the learner feels comfortable to consider new ideas and not threatened by external factors. Secondly; that human beings have a natural eagerness to learn only when their needs are being met.

In Erikson’s view, these conflicts are centered on either developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. During these times, the potential for personal growth is high, but so is the potential for failure. The relationship that exist between this theory and this research comes in at stage five of the psychosocial development of Erickson where the individual is trying to know the self and having a role model. Here, peers can now come in to direct the behavior of the individual either positively or negatively if there is not enough direction from the guidance (parents) of the individual.

Albert Bandura is a social cognitivist who emphasizes learning via observation and imitation. According to him, students learn through observation and imitation of the behaviors of others. Those performing the     behavior and are being observed are called models.

These models who are mostly their elders are either in school (teachers or senior students) or at home (parents and neighbors). Students who learn through modeling learn easily and effectively because they keep trying to imitate until they are perfect. Bandura believed that humans are cognitive beings who, unlike animals, are likely to think about the links between their behavior and it consequences and that humans are more likely to be influenced by what they believed will happen, than by actual experience.

Statement of the Problem

Generally, students are sent to school not only to gain academic knowledge or competencies, but  the school as well helps them to build good personalities, acceptable behaviours and other skills which they need for survival. From general observation, one has noticed that some of this student’s behaviour do not meet the expected outcomes or standards of the society in general and the school in particular.

Now this leaves one with the knowledge of what is actually responsible for this poor behaviour of the students. Is it the school?, the school environment? Or is it peer pressure? This leaves one to ask the question dose peer pressure have an influence or determine the behaviour of students in school?. That is why a study of this nature becomes relevant to find out the role or influence of peer pressure on students behaviour in the University of Buea.

Objectives of the Study

At the level of these objectives, both the general and specific objectives will be well buttressed in the subsequent paragraphs

General Objective

Generally, this study seeks to find out how peer pressure determines students behaviour in the University of Buea.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives are as follows:

1. To find out the influence of romantic relationships on students’ behaviour in the University of Buea.
2. To find out the influence of indecent dressing on students’ behaviour in the University of Buea.
3. To find out the influence of delinquent behaviour on students behaviour in the University of Buea.
4. To find out the influence of regular attendance of classes on students behaviour in the University of Buea

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