The Course of Life Concept Development in Students Inclined to Deviant Behavior

Objective: deviant behaviour has become a global issue of great concern and requires immediate attention. This study aimed to investigate the course of life concept development in students inclined to deviant behavior. Methods: This experimental and empirical study was performed by the structural correlation as a quasi-experimental design in 2019-2020. The study setting was the Belgorod National State Research University and the target population were the students aged between 18 to 21 years who had tendency to deviant behavior. The samples were selected based on real groups’ involvement and polar groups’ isolation and comparison. The variables were the correction program aimed at developing personal notions about the life path in students, and the qualities that make up the content of the «temporary» and «value-semantic» aspects of the subjects' notions about the life path. Data on deviant behaviour was collected using the questionnaires of Tendency  to  deviant behavior and Deviant Behavior Questionnaire of Robinson and Bennett. The structural equation modeling and partial least squares' method and PLS Smart software were used to validate the original model and test the hypotheses. Results: Only 27% of students had tendency to deviant behavior (group 1) and 73% were normal students (group 2). The students in group 1 had higher tendency to nonconformism (P≤0.01), moderate inclination to addictive behavior (P≤0.01), and more aggressive tendencies (P≤0.01) compare to the student in group 2. Also, in the students in group 1, «present» and «past» time were described as joyful, light, real, close, calm, voluminous, bright and active; however, «future» time as passive, motionless, empty, little, flat, petty and narrow. In terms of value-semantic measurement of students' life concepts, the students prone to deviant behavior do not have meaningful purposes in the future that give life meaningfulness and direction. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, higher tendency to non-conformism, addictive behavior, and aggressive tendencies were found in the students with tendency to deviant behavior. Also, these students do not have meaningful purposes in the future that give life meaningfulness and direction and they live for today or for yesterday.  It is suggested that the correctional and developing work under program aimed at the personal course of life concepts development reduce the students' inclination to deviant behavior.