NCJ Number
157734
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1994) Pages: 46-52
Date Published
1994
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Involvement in the occult was the common factor in this pilot project among a group of rural New South Wales adolescents who exhibited self-destructive behavior.
Abstract
The target group included 18 adolescents from a rural area of western New South Wales; 11 were male and 7 were female, and the mean age was 16 years. Adolescents shared several characteristics, including a history of family dislocation or childhood trauma, encounters with youth service providers, substance abuse problems, preference for heavy metal music, and occult participation. The central appeal of Satanism appeared to involve the promise of power, and the key problem identified for the group involved an escalation in self-destructive behavior. Interventions included two camps, formal and informal discussion groups as followup, and establishment of a temporary community home. In these forums, adolescents were given the opportunity to explore the significance of their occult participation. Outcomes included a general severing of ties with occult involvement, reduced substance abuse, increased emotional stability, and increased social adjustment. 29 references