Male adolescents endure complex transitions from childhood. This is because “adolescence is a developmental period characterised by rapidly transformative biological, neurological, psychological and social changes” (Nguyen, et al., 2022). Furthermore, adolescence is a unique period in an individual’s life history, characterised by a myriad of changes related to sexual maturation, growth, immunological transformation, and emotional and cognitive development…a proxy for the physical development associated with sexual maturation (puberty) (Lewis, 2022).
Our brief study sought to investigate the communication traits of male adolescents in Windhoek, Namibia and established that there are four main communication traits: apprehension, which leads to verbal and physical aggressiveness (Keyton & Frey, 2002); lack of openness with parents and guardians; a significant degree of unease in expressing their emotions; and being more at ease with the counsel of agemates than with parents and adult professionals.
Studies show that interpersonal communication traits are a reliable indicator of young men and boys’ vulnerability to criminal exploitation. Interpersonal traits also show “that negative dispositions of temperament, including aggression and ‘boredom susceptibility contribute to adolescent vulnerability (Reid et al., 2021, p.120). Research also shows that unhealthy communication traits that suppress feelings, avoidance of professional help or the guidance of a responsible adult often led to adolescent males seeking a false sense of security from peers who are ill-equipped to offer them good counsel and may guide the troubled adolescent into unwise decisions (Austgulen, et al. 2024).
Effective interpersonal and nonverbal communication when interacting with parents, peers, and society is considered crucial for the stability of male adolescents (Siegel, 2014). The issues of temperament raised in the existing literature about male adolescents and their communication (Reid, et al., 2021), especially regarding relations with their parents and peers (DeLooze, et al., 2020), prompted interest in exploring the communication traits of Namibian adolescent males, particularly in parts of the capital city, Windhoek. Using the Expectancy Value Theory as its interpretative framework, our study applied Fishbein’s concept that an individual is motivated by two factors: the value of the action and the expectation of success when completing the action (Wigfield & Cambria, 2010).
When applied to the field of communication, the expectancy Value Theory asserts that an individual is motivated by two factors: the value of the action and the expectation of success when completing the action. When applied as an analysis of adolescent behaviour, the theory helps to interpret and demonstrate how adolescents, when they engage in a specific action, do so motivated by a specific reward or sense of value that they perceive at the time. Adolescents may be motivated to impress their peers and, in doing so, may conduct themselves in a way that departs from their own usual temperament or moral behaviour. Thus, they are motivated to do wrong, but the core justification is the value that they will get out of that behaviour, which is peer approval. This was very evident when respondents gave evidence of the appeal and influence of peer pressure.
It was noted that better communication, mutual understanding and respect were important in peer relationships to detect dissent and resolve it as quickly and peacefully as possible and to avoid ruptures in their relationships.
Several variables were put to study participants about feelings of peer pressure, being misunderstood, being driven to consider self-harm, being rebellious, and being able to express and deal with their emotions. While most respondents appeared to seek and take counsel from their age mates rather than parents and older family members, the proportion of respondents who reported that they had considered drastic measures like self-harm or suicide to deal with societal pressures constituted a minority of the respondents.
Most of the adolescent males interviewed seemed to have agemate networks for social support, and at the very least, significant others on which to lean for emotional support. The majority of respondents reported feeling misunderstood by parents, teachers, mentors, and, at times, by other adolescents. This is a significant indication of the alienation that is felt by a substantial number of adolescents. This aligns with findings in other studies that attest to the alienation between many adolescent and adult figures (Delooze et al., 2020).
Clayton Peel – Namibia University of Science and Technology in Windhoek, Namibia.
Florida Geingos – Namibia University of Science and Technology.