| Abstract [eng] |
The life in Lithuania is undergoing continual cultural, social and political changes. Actually, their effects are felt by every family and children growing in the family. Children of the risk group usually lack skills of social life. Consequently, are unable to manage social situations, to seek effective solutions to life problems, to specialize successfully in a new changing environment and to make an adequate effect on the given environment. Inadequate deviant behaviour of such children contemporary presents one of major social-pedagogical issues. Therefore social skills training of children of the risk group should necessarily be emphasized as a significant condition for the individual’s social integration in the society. The present issue is given little consideration in Lithuania which has a negative implication for children of the risk group who are constantly facing the risk of becoming an inferior member of society. The importance of the situation in question and a comparatively small extent of its research enable the performance of a number of studies that would assist in establishing the state of social competences of children of the risk group. The object of the study: The social competence of children of the risk group. The aim of the study: To reveal the expressional peculiarities of the social competence of children of the risk group. The goals of the study: 1) to analyse scientific literature on the subject in question; 2) to discuss demographical and criminogenic situation of children of the risk group in Šiauliai; 3) to find out the attitude of children of the risk group towards their social competence; 4) to clarify the view of specialists as experts on the social competence of children of the risk group; 5) to provide conclusions and recommendations. Hypothesis: While assessing the actual and the predictable social competence of children of the risk group, the clash of two kinds of opinions is likely to emerge: that of specialists as experts who adequately assess the social competence available to children of the risk group and that of children of the risk group who tend to significantly overestimate their available social skills (social competence). The technique and methods of the study: The study is based on contemporary ideas of a humanistic theory which focus on the individual and his/her relations with the social environment. The following methods of research have been employed herein: the analysis of scientific literature, a questionnaire survey of children and a statistical analysis. The base and the sample of the study: The study sample involved 50 children of the risk group and 110 specialists from all over Lithuania who work with children of the risk group. The accomplished study is significant both, in its innovation and in terms of theory and practice. The results and findings of the study may be helpful to parents, the specialists of the Children's Rights Protection Office, social workers, educators, etc. The study confirmed the hypothesis brought forward at the beginning of the study. Specialists judge on children of the risk group as being self-confident, self-satisfied, blind to and ignorant of the consequences incurred by them despite being aware of good and bad qualities of their behaviour. A frequent child of the risk group makes decisions on his own, without discussing them with adults or contemporaries, as well as makes attempts to cope with difficulties without appealing for help. According to specialists, such children are less regardful of other people’s evaluations. |
