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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
In 1974 and 1975, there were a series of violent outbreaks in two high schools and one intermediate school on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. This article by Ponce and Lee explored the dynamics of these violent incidents between local-born and immigrant Filipino students. Issues concerning the social and psychological motivations that fueled the incident were examined.
METHODOLOGY:
The study followed a quasi-experimental case study design. The authors had been asked by the family court judge and the local immigration center to undertake a psychiatric evaluation of the student who allegedly instigated the violent incidents. In addition, it was agreed that the authors would hold 10 weekly group consultation sessions with three immigrant students who had been directly involved in the conflict. A school acculturation teacher served as a co-leader of the group. The sessions were one hour each week and held on school grounds during school hours. Meetings were scheduled with parents between sessions to keep them informed and to gather background information. Informal sessions were also held with local students (a specific number was not mentioned). Two out of three students attended about half of the structured sessions, while one student attended all of the sessions.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The authors found that, contrary to their initial suspicions, the immigrant/local antagonisms were not at the core of the problem but served as an outlet for depression and anger over immediate family troubles. The authors suggested collaborative work between the schools involved. One of the high schools involved in the incidents was chosen to be the focus of a consultation process because it possessed a larger proportion of immigrant students and reported that further violent acts were probable.
The conflict between local and immigrant Filipino students was extremely complex and could not be fully explained by a single factor. The tension between local and immigrant students appeared to be largely surface manifestations of deeper and broader individual and socioeconomic problems. The authors found that immigrant students were missing a tightly-knit community that they were accustomed to in the Philippines. There had been a disruption of support and control systems in addition to the stresses associated with relocation. Since no structured sessions were scheduled with local students, information concerning their perceptions of the conflict was limited to informal conversations. One sentiment that was common among the local students was that they felt embarrassed about being associated with the immigrants of the same ethnic group. In conclusion, more complex social, economic, and political factors were involved than could be addressed in this study. However, since the consultation sessions, no further violent outbreaks have occurred. However, attempts to restore regular attendance were only partially achieved. Nonetheless, school personnel felt that they were in better control of the situation after the group consultation sessions.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors believed that further investigation into ethnic tensions is necessary in order to gain a better understanding of the issue. Psychiatric evaluation supported by information on the individual's family history and background were seen as imperative when analyzing violence among adolescents.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - 1970s
KW - Hawaii
KW - Juvenile Violence
KW - Juvenile Offender
KW - Asian Juvenile
KW - Asian Offender
KW - Asian Violence
KW - Intraracial Violence
KW - Ethnic Violence
KW - School Violence
KW - Sociocultural Factors
KW - Immigrant Offender
KW - Immigrant Violence
KW - Juvenile Gang
KW - Asian Gang
KW - Gang Violence
KW - School Gang Activity
KW - Senior High School Student
KW - Mental Health Assessment
Language: en |