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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Maden was to provide an analysis of the dynamics between violent adolescents and their families. It also highlighted family interactional studies pertaining to violent adolescents.
METHODOLOGY:
This study was primarily based on the author's observations, as a clinical psychiatrist, of violent adolescents and their families. A literature review of family interactional studies, which are studies using direct observational methodologies to understand internal family structures, also contributed to this study. From these two sources, this study provided a critical perspective on the research of violent adolescents.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
This study exposed the realities behind many of the myths which existed about violence and adolescents such as: juvenile offenders constituted only a very small fraction of the total adolescent population; juveniles did not appear to typically progress from less serious to more serious crimes; institutions and treatment programs had little effect in rehabilitating juveniles; adolescent violence was not just a Western, American phenomenon. Studies on the family dynamics of violent adolescents revealed that most violent juveniles came from homes which were chaotic; homes where they received mixed messages from parents ranging from open encouragement of violence to severe punishment for the same violence; homes with parents who were absent or physically/sexually abusive. From this study, it was concluded that denial of violence or harm is frequently employed by both violent adolescents and their parents. This denial by the parents, regardless of its intention, had the effect of encouraging the violence even further. Parents of violent adolescents often gave up their parental position, responsibility and power forcing the adolescents to assume those roles. Family interactional studies have found that delinquent families' interactions involved manipulation, under-controlled affect, instability, competition, and inconsistency. This study characterized delinquent adolescents as being defiant, physically assaultive, unsure of their roles in their families, as having poor school performance, and as having an inability to plan for the future. The few neurological studies on violent adolescents found that neurological damage appeared more frequently in violent juveniles; that perinatal complications could lead to higher susceptibility to engaging in violent behavior; that violent behavior was somewhat associated with mental retardation, minimal brain dysfunction, and some epileptic disturbances. This study characterized violent adolescents as having a difficult time specifically interpreting or detailing their anger. Often, these adolescents had a profound sense of distrust in others. The author stressed to therapists and counselors of violent adolescents the importance of expressing this anger.
AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
The author stressed the need to critically examine the research on violent juveniles. He warned that there are many types of adolescent offenders and that distinctions should be made between them. He also stressed that this article primarily discussed clinical issues and not societal and cultural issues, which should not be ignored. (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)
Language: en |