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Youth Interventions

ased problem behavior. Youth are susceptible to peer influence, and one youth's problem behavior can play off that of another synergistically, producing far worse behavior than either youth would engage in by himself. Furthermore, aggregating problem youth is in some respects equivalent to forming a gang; an unofficial leader will emerge in any group situation, and the other youth will take their cues from him. In a group dynamic, youth imitate and thus learn problem behavior from each other, so group interventions can also serve as a venue for learning further delinquent behavior. Delinquents that may be relatively subdued when isolated from other problem youth can become much more aggressive in the presence of their peers, thus creating a situation that has the potential of growing out of control.

A possible reason for the escalation of problem behavior in peer-group settings is that in a group of like-minded peers, the negative thought patterns, attributions, and prejudices that problem youth hold are expressed more freely than when they are alone. This effect is similar to the salubrious effect of drinking alcohol at a party or chatting with a group of close friends. Inhibitions are diminished, and people feel comfortable expressing their thoughts in a more uncensored fashion because they are aware that they are in a receptive and sympathetic group. Depending upon the dynamic in the group at any given time, this group identification can lead either to an opening up of feelings and ideas or to an escalation in violence. Tynes (2007, p. 1318), for example, cites a study by Pollock (2004) in which "interracial conflict [at a school where racial conflict was prevalent] was common and at times escalated into violent physical attacks or 'race riots.'" She noted, however, that in an online environment where there is no threat of "physical or future consequences," participants are free to display or challenge racial prej...

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Youth Interventions. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 09:10, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/2000788.html