NCJ Number
146459
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 27 Issue: 106 Dated: (Summer 1992) Pages: 293-294
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Three of the most destructive subcultures in which alienated adolescents may become involved include Satanists, neo-Nazi skinheads, and violent street gangs.
Abstract
Satanism can range from experimentation with devil worship to serious and chronic involvement in rituals antithetical to the Judeo-Christian belief system. American skinheads, a dangerous breed of white supremacists, are usually teenagers who abuse drugs or alcohol, carry weapons including baseball bats and knives, and often engage in vicious attacks on minorities and homosexuals. Violent street gangs are groups that claim a turf, associate regularly, and usually engage in illegal behavior. The psychosocial assessment described here focuses on the adolescent's symptoms including withdrawal, drug use, feelings of hopelessness about the future, suicidal ideation, and an inability to forge stable relationships. Three areas in which teenage alienation can be prevented include the family, school, and peers. When clinical intervention is necessary, the therapist must be familiar with these subcultures and be able to assess the adolescent's level of fear, low self-esteem, ineffective coping strategies, and compromised development. 2 figures and 16 references