Behind the motivation of a religious group : a detailed study monitoring YMM (Youth Movement Marsascala) members

Abstract

During adolescence, there is an internal desire to socialize with peers of the same age and mostly of the same values and interests. There is also the inevitable search for one's identity. Religious youth groups in Malta play a great role in both building one's friendships and one's unique identity. This research focuses on the regular and the irregular members of the YMM. It tries to understand the attitudes, motivations and de-motivations of the committed members and of those members who attend infrequently. The introduction includes both the aim and the focus of this research and details of the YMM which were taken into account during the course of the study. The second chapter is a theoretical chapter which deals with research and conclusions drawn by sociologists and social psychologists. The following chapter deals with the methodology used in this study including the advantages and drawbacks of the methodology chosen. The analysis of the data gathered is divided in two and can be used to compare the different opinions of the participants and also to draw out what YMM needs to focus on to attract and maintain members. The conclusion draws together the results obtained from the research.