NCJ Number
156292
Journal
Reclaiming Children and Youth Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1995) Pages: 11-15
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article examines reasons why adults respond aggressively to juvenile aggression and violence and advises that this is not an appropriate therapeutic reaction.
Abstract
One reason adults become "counteraggressive" is that they are reacting to being caught in the juvenile's conflict cycle, and a second reason is that it is a reaction to the violation of cherished values and beliefs. Counteraggression is also a reaction to being in a bad mood as well as to not meeting professional expectations. Counteraggression is a reaction to feelings of rejection and helplessness, and also a response to prejudging a problem juvenile in a crisis. The seventh reason is that it is a reaction to exposing the adult's unfinished psychological business. The author advises that adult counteraggressive behavior has no therapeutic purpose in helping relationships with troubled juveniles. Counteraggressive behavior destroys the effectiveness of staff intervention and succeeds only in reinforcing troubled juveniles' beliefs that all adults in their lives are rejecting and punitive. 1 reference