Social Vices: Causes and Counselling Remedies

Abstract

Global increase in social problems both reflect and contribute to national and international tensions. The social vices problem is a key concern in many developing countries, where many types of vices are not known. It has worsened into a current global issue which represents human undesirable side of social growth. This undesirable fact is an unfortunate and has developed many security encounters facing the modern society. In this paper, some contemporary social vices have been discussed in the light of their causes, consequences, and possible counselling remedies. This paper argues that examination malpractice, drug abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and political thuggery among other contemporary social vices have created havoc and have contributed greatly to the slow pace in Nigeria. The major causes which include unemployment, poverty, peer influence, students’ poor reading habit, quick success syndrome and lack of marital counselling with their effects were discussed. It has been established in the course of this study that the problem of social vices, is a symptom of society which is embroiled in moral decadence. Realizing the havoc which social vices have wrecked on individuals and the society at large, all hands must be on deck to combat the menace. However, to curb this menace, possible counselling remedies like Rational Emotive Therapy, Client-Centred therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Group Therapy, and family therapy were proffered to serve as a panacea which will stem the tide of social vices and foster rapid development. It was recommended that government and stakeholders should collaborate and ensure pre-marital counselling, marital counselling, drug abuse counselling, crisis counselling, sex counselling, counselling with families concerning children, vocational/career counselling, educational counselling as well as counselling delinquents are emphasized and recommended to curb the menace so as to promote individual, social, political, moral, educational and economic development.