CMY2603
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: MARCH 2026
, CMY2603 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE MARCH 2026
Discuss any five risk factors associated with youth misbehaviour in South Africa.
For each risk factor selected, explain how it can contribute to aggressive, violent,
criminal, or disruptive behaviour among children and youths, and provide a brief
South African example to illustrate the link. (10 marks)
Part 1 Five Risk Factors Associated with Youth Misbehaviour in South Africa
1. Low Socio-Economic Status and Poverty
Low socio-economic status represents one of the most significant risk factors for youth
misbehaviour in South Africa. According to Maree (2018:88), a youth is more likely to
become involved in crime if they come from a poverty-stricken family where parents are
unable to provide for their basic needs. This economic deprivation has profound
psychological effects on young people, as it can negatively affect a child's self-concept
and cause feelings of inferiority, shame, and guilt . These emotional responses to
poverty can manifest in aggressive or disruptive behaviour as youths struggle to cope
with their circumstances. Overcrowding in households, which often accompanies
poverty, impedes on a child's privacy and forces them to explore new environments
outside the home. Unfortunately, this wandering can lead them to befriend criminal
elements who offer a sense of belonging and material benefits that their families cannot
provide .
A concrete South African example of this risk factor can be observed in the
impoverished communities of the Joe Gqabi District in the Eastern Cape. Research
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: MARCH 2026
, CMY2603 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE MARCH 2026
Discuss any five risk factors associated with youth misbehaviour in South Africa.
For each risk factor selected, explain how it can contribute to aggressive, violent,
criminal, or disruptive behaviour among children and youths, and provide a brief
South African example to illustrate the link. (10 marks)
Part 1 Five Risk Factors Associated with Youth Misbehaviour in South Africa
1. Low Socio-Economic Status and Poverty
Low socio-economic status represents one of the most significant risk factors for youth
misbehaviour in South Africa. According to Maree (2018:88), a youth is more likely to
become involved in crime if they come from a poverty-stricken family where parents are
unable to provide for their basic needs. This economic deprivation has profound
psychological effects on young people, as it can negatively affect a child's self-concept
and cause feelings of inferiority, shame, and guilt . These emotional responses to
poverty can manifest in aggressive or disruptive behaviour as youths struggle to cope
with their circumstances. Overcrowding in households, which often accompanies
poverty, impedes on a child's privacy and forces them to explore new environments
outside the home. Unfortunately, this wandering can lead them to befriend criminal
elements who offer a sense of belonging and material benefits that their families cannot
provide .
A concrete South African example of this risk factor can be observed in the
impoverished communities of the Joe Gqabi District in the Eastern Cape. Research
