Values as A Predictor of Socially Unacceptable Behavior of Youth

Abstract

The values of youth direct behavior towards achieving specific value goals. Schwartz's theory of universal content and value structure plays a significant role in the theoretical understanding of values and value systems, according to which values are desirable goals of varying importance that represent the guiding principles in the life of an individual (Schwartz, 1992). Socially unacceptable behaviors are behaviors that deviate from everyday habitual behavior, and are dangerous to the person and the environment and therefore require professional and professional help (Uzelac, 1995). Depending on whether such behaviors pose a greater danger to the person himself or his environment, we are talking about internalized and externalized behaviors. In addition to Schwartz's theory, values as possible predictors of socially unacceptable behavior are also discussed by the theory of social learning, the theory of anomie, the theory of self-determination. By reviewing the researches about connection of youth values with unacceptable behavior, which is the goal of this review, it can be concluded that most of the research points out that in explaining internalized behavioral problems it is important what kind of culture of society one belongs to, and significant values that are associated with the emergence of internalized problems are traditional and modernist (but also the values of achievement), while the characteristics of personality are more important for the explanation of externalized problems, and significant values associated with externalized problems are the values of power, incentives, hedonism, openness to change and the value of one's own gain.