DELINQUENCY IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS - DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS (FROM ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY VOLUME 7 - DEVELOPMENTAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES, 1979, BY SHERMAN C FEINSTEIN AND PETER L GIOVACCHINI)

• NCJ Number: 64751
• Author(s): P A ROSENTHAL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TWO PATHOLOGICAL TYPES OF DELINQUENT ADOLESCENT GIRLS ARE DETERMINED, AND APPROPRIATE METHODS FOR TREATMENT ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE STUDY GROUP OF 15 DELINQUENT GIRLS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 17 HAD A MIDDLE-CLASS OR LOWER-MIDDLE-CLASS BACKGROUND WITH MIXED ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS. THE GIRLS HAD DEVELOPED SEVERE CONFLICTS CHARACTERIZED BY TRUANCY, SHOPLIFTING, AND GANG FIGHTS, DRUG ABUSE, AGGRESSION TOWARDS PARENTAL FIGURES, SUICIDAL ATTEMPTS, PROMISCUITY, RUNNING AWAY, AND PREGNANCY. ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE GIRLS CAME FROM INTACT FAMILIES, THEIR PROBLEMS WERE CLOSELY TIED TO PARENTAL DIFFICULTIES, THE ADOLESCENT RESURGENCE OF PREVIOUSLY UNRESOLVED INSTINCTUAL PROCESSES (AGGRESSIVE AND SEXUAL), AND THE REACTIVATION OF PREOEDIPAL TIES. IN THE COURSE OF THE PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT, TWO DIFFERENT PATHOLOGICAL TYPES WERE DISCOVERED WHICH REQUIRE DIFFERENT TREATMENT TECHNIQUES AND WHICH ARE REVEALED THROUGH CASE HISTORIES. THE FIRST TYPE HAS SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION AND PLACES HER EARLIER FEELINGS ABOUT HER PARENTS ONTO TRANSITIONAL OBJECTS SUCH AS OLDER BOYS OR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. IN SUCH A CASE, PARENTS AND DAUGHTER MUST RECEIVE SEPARATE COUNSELING, AND THE DAUGHTER'S THERAPY MUST EXPLORE FEELINGS TOWARDS THE TRANSITIONAL OBJECT WITHOUT MAKING JUDGMENTS OR INTERFERING WITH THE PATHOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP. IF THE PARENTS THROUGH THEIR OWN THERAPY BECOME AWARE OF THE MEANING OF THEIR DAUGHTER'S NEW RELATIONSHIP, THEY CAN BECOME SUPPORTIVE AND EMPATHIZE WITH HER. THE ADOLESCENT GIRL SLOWLY DEVELOPS A SENSE OF REALITY AND ESTABLISHES HER OWN IDENTITY WITH SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION FROM THE TRANSITIONAL OBJECT. IN THE SECOND TYPE, THE ADOLESCENT CANNOT COPE WITH THE SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION PHASE AND CONTINUES THE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ORIGINAL LOVE OBJECT. IN THIS CASE, THE THERAPIST FIRST NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE ADOLESCENT AND HER MOTHER TO ASSIST THE PROCESS OF SEPARATION BEFORE STARTING INDIVIDUAL WORK WITH THE ADOLESCENT. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS A BIBLIOGRAPHY. (SAJ)