NCJ Number
69009
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 15 Issue: 58 Dated: (SUMMER 1980) Pages: 483-489
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS ESSAY DISCUSSES FACTORS WHICH CAUSE ADOLESCENTS TO RUN AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES. IT IS BASED ON RESULTS OF EXISTING RESEARCH IN OTHER SOURCES.
Abstract
IN 1975, AN ESTIMATED 600,000 CHILDREN RAN AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES. RUNAWAYS DIFFER FROM NONRUNAWAYS IN FAMILY STRUCTURES, PATTERS OF DISCIPLINING, ACADEMIC MOTIVATION, AND THE CHARACTER OF SELF-PERCEPTIONS. REJECTION AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL IS A KEY ELEMENT OF THEIR LIVES. REJECTION LEADS ULTIMATELY TO SELF-HATRED. FAMILIES OF RUNAWAYS HAVE HIGH RATES OF INTERNAL CONFLICT, DIVORCE, RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY, AND DEATH. DISCIPLINE IS USUALLY PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSIVE. PUNISHMENTS ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY NEGATIVE AND DEHUMANIZING LABELS. AT SCHOOL, RUNAWAYS ARE OFTEN TRACKED INTO SLOW LEARNER CLASSES, LEFT BACK TO REPEAT GRADES, AND OSTRACIZED BY TEACHERS AND PEERS. CHILDREN RUN AWAY WHEN THE CUMULATIVE EXPERIENCE OF MARGINALITY BREEDS INTOLERABLE LONELINESS AND ALIENATION. HOME AND SCHOOL ARE VIEWED AS OPPRESSIVE AND SUFFOCATING. THIS ANALYSIS IS CONSISTENT WITH ERIKSON'S DISCUSSIONS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF SOCIETAL PRESSURES, STAGES OF THE LIFECYCLE, AND PERSONAL IDENTITY. TO CURE RUNNING AWAY, COMMUNITIES MUST HARNESS YOUTHFUL VITALITY IN SERVICE OF MEANINGFUL GOALS. THE CORRECTIONAL EXPERIENCE COULD PROVIDE VALUABLE EDUCATION IN CITIZENSHIP BY PROVIDING REAL CHOICES AND RESPONDING TO DEMANDS FOR REAL SERVICES. ALTHOUGH THE CHALLENGE OF GUIDING TRUE COMMUNITIES AND A CONSTRUCTIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ENORMOUS, CHILDREN MUST BE PROVIDED WITH VIABLE ROLES AND IDENTITIES IN ORDER TO MAKE NEW AND ALIVE, FOR EACH GENERATION, THE BODY POLITIC. FOOTNOTES AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED.