Locus of Control and Vulnerability to Peer Pressure Critique

Locus of Control and Vulnerability to Peer Pressure Critique
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Locus of Control and Vulnerability to Peer Pressure Critique
Introduction
The locus of control and vulnerability to peer pressure is a research study by Manuela
and Desmond investigating the vulnerability of African adolescents to peer pressure. The
increased peer pressure fueled the study among adolescents, which is becoming a huge concern
to parents since it is getting to extremes where treatment is necessary. One hundred forty-four
adolescents from two senior high schools aged between 15 to 19 years were selected and
subjected to a survey. The study aimed to identify factors that fuel peer pressure making
adolescents and teenagers do things against moral upbringing and the relationship between social
pressure and locus of control.
The study is essential since some of these behaviors adopted are likely to affect young
adults the rest of their lives. Understanding the root cause of the problem is therefore very
important to help them opt-out or be courageous enough to say no to some of the influences.
However, most adolescents are getting to identify themselves, and in the process, they end up
getting carried away and picking up behaviors and personalities in an attempt to fit in. Young
adults who refuse to do some things are labeled uncool names, and therefore the majority of
them feel the need and the pressure to join in doing deviant behaviors to get a sense of belonging
among their peers. During the study, essential factors such as consent and demographics were
considered to help categorize the group based on age, class, and gender.
Purpose of the study
The study's primary purpose was to investigate the relationship between locus of control
and peer pressure among adolescents. The study goes ahead and researches whether the type of
locus control one possesses impacts their resistance or succumbing to peer pressure. One of the

study objectives was to determine the relationship between gender and locus of control. What
gender, male or female, with an internal locus of control resist peer pressure easily. It also aimed
at determining what gender, with an external locus of control, can resist peer pressure.
Some research study questions include the likelihood of females resisting peer pressure
and whether a gender difference exists between externalizers and resistance to peer pressure.
Other questions include whether there is a positive relationship between adolescents and
resistance to peer pressure and the link between resisting social pressure and locus of control. By
the end of the research study, the researchers were supposed to tell the relationship between
locus of control and social pressure and the type of locus of control that was more resistant to
peer pressure. As a result, parents, teachers, and guardians will guide how to come up with
interventions based on the knowledge gained from the study.
However, the study had a few limitations since the schools' size was too small, and the
results may not have represented the countrywide population and Africa at large. Additionally,
the information is likely biased since the participants may have provided socially-expected
feedback instead of the truth. Adolescents are always afraid of being judged and, therefore, will
do anything, including giving false information to avoid judgment. The necessary measures were
taken to ensure confidentiality and openness, but the researchers could not ensure that the
information was accurate. The survey was also carried out in schools alone, resulting in
thousands of adolescents not being left out.
Variables
The independent variables in this research study are adolescents, gender, internal and
external locus of control, while the dependent variables are peer pressure, resistance, and health
problems. The study aims at identifying the impact of each independent variable on the