Unselfish Motivations and Deviance: An Empirical Examination of Social Concern Theory among South Korean Adolescents

ABSTRACT

The study tested the mediating role of social concern – or intrinsic unselfish motivations – in the relationship among teacher bonds, deviant peer association, and youth delinquency in Korea, a cultural setting that promotes social concern. Multi-group path analysis with nationally representative data of Korean adolescents (N = 2,089) indicated that teacher bonds predicted lower levels of delinquency, whereas deviant peer association predicted higher levels. Bonding with teachers was significantly related to social concern; however, social concern predicted less deviant behavior for boys only. Prevention policies that improve the quality of teacher-youth relationships may more effectively restrain self-interested behavior than intensified punishment.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant ‘Development of Psychological Modeling based on Disaster Analysis’ [MPSS-SD-2014-40] from the Social Disaster Prevention Research Center, Ministry of Public Safety and Security, Republic of Korea.

Notes on contributors

Hyunhee Hong

Hyunhee Hong, M.A., is a doctoral student in the Department of Child Psychology and Education at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. Her research interest includes adolescent delinquency, bullying, and positive resources which protect adolescents from various risk factors. Her work has been published in Deviant Behavior, International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, and other Journals in South Korea.

Yoonsun Han

Yoonsun Han, Ph.D., is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Seoul National University in South Korea. Her research areas of interest include health-risk behaviors, peer and family relationships, and maladjustment among adolescents, as well as issues of marginalization and diversity. Her work has been published in Children and Youth Services Review, School Psychology International, and Child Abuse & Neglect.

Dong Hun Lee

Dong Hun Lee, Ph.D., the corresponding author, is an associate professor in the Department of Education at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. He received a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida, USA. His research interest includes children and adolescents’ mental health issues, especially in a single parent family and ex-offenders’ family. His work has been published in Journal of Learning Disabilities, School Psychology International, and other Journals. Postal address and e-mail address: Department of Education, Sungkyunkwan University, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-745, South Korea, [email protected]