NCJ Number
202672
Journal
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2003 Pages: 369-387
Date Published
October 2003
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article argues that violent behavior in youth is a result of poor mental health functioning and that the principles behind Health Realization can help youth recapture healthy psychological functioning.
Abstract
Health Realization (HR) is a psychospiritual model based on the three principles of Mind, Consciousness, and Thought. The article explores these principles and argues that youth violence is the result of the absence of well-being, self-esteem, common sense, and other positive qualities of healthy psychological functioning. After describing the principles and processes of HR, the article applies the model to the prevention of youth violence. The key to preventing youth violence is to teach youth how to reclaim their natural mental health. This is done through the HR model of teaching youth to “recognize the inside-out creation of experience through understanding the principles of Mind, Thought, and Consciousness.” Next, the article reviews contemporary research that supports the main assumptions of the HR model for youth violence prevention. Results are presented of applied HR programs in community and school settings to illustrate its effectiveness at reducing violent behavior among youth. The author asserts that the success of the HR model should open the way for a deeper understanding of internal causes of disorder and lead researchers away from the current focus on external causes of disorder. References