A STUDY OF JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENTS' WORLDVIEWS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Adolescence has always been described as a period of storm and stress. Adolescents are neither considered as children nor adults and so they are 'marginal' characters in an often awkward position. Local studies tend to concentrate on the attitudes, values, behaviours and aspirations of youths. Few if any have touched on their worldviews. Hence this study attempts to explore junior college youths' worldviews. Five worldview dimensions are investigated in this study. The discussion in the first worldview dimension explores the extent to which our junior college youths can be considered to be more traditional or Westernized. The second dimension looks into their relative emotional isolation or emotional intimacy through their relationships. The third dimension studies whether they are more idealistic or materialistic. The fourth dimension gives an insight into their sense of independence. Finally, the last dimension examines these adolescents’ power of control over life circumstances. Ten youths from various junior colleges were individually interviewed on many issues. From their choice of interior decoration to their views on the bubble-gum law and environmentalism, their opinions are inferred to give a lead to their worldviews. It is discovered that youths are still very ”Chinese" despite their Western fashion and mannerism. Though many studies claim that adolescents usually feel estranged, those who were interviewed are not emotionally isolated. Youths also seem to be juggling between idealism and materialism. The fourth dimension reveals that junior college youths perceive sufficient independence from their families but not from the government. The last dimension shows that they have both personal control and fatalism. From the findings of the current study, it is hoped that an understanding in the worldviews will lead to the implementation of social services which will enhance youths' development and maximise youths' potentials.