Role of Interest and Social Contact on Approval of Illegal Behaviour in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the role of interest and social contact on approval of illegal behaviour in Awka metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty-four youths drawn from Awka metropolis, Anambra state served as participants in the study. They comprised of 126(59.8%) males, and 118(40.2%) females. Their age ranged from 18 to 39 years with a mean of 28.06, and a standard deviation of 6.36. Simple random sampling was used to choose the participants. Three instruments were used: Interest Scale, Social Contact Scale (SCS), and Approval of Illegal Behaviour Scale. The study used factorial design, and Two-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA) as appropriate design and statistics. The result indicated that interest and social contact corrected model accounted for 57.8% variance on approval of illegal behaviour, with (F3, 40) = 56.09, p<.05; R = .578, R2 adjusted = .567. However, interest did not indicate a significant difference on approval of illegal behaviour in Awka metropolis, Anambra State at (F3, 40) = 3.46, p>.05 at 0.2%. Conversely, social contact showed a significant difference on approval of illegal behaviour in Awka metropolis, Anambra State at (F3, 40) = 33.34, p<.05 at 21.3%. There was a significant interaction between interest and social contact on approval of illegal behaviour among youths in Awka metropolis, Anambra State at (F3, 40) = 3.97, p<.05 at 0.3%. This implies that forensic psychologists are expected to engage in public awareness of social contact, and how it can negatively cause approval of illegal behaviour. This will help to educate youths on how to relate socially without approving illegal behaviour.