NCJ Number
85516
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1982) Pages: 125-134
Date Published
1982
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Adolescents deal with aggressive impulses either by fantasizing the experience or by actually acting out the violent impulse.
Abstract
Fantasy is used to visualize the probable results of what an aggressive act may do. Most people are able to get the feel of a fantasized aggressive act and thus feel no need to actually commit it. A successful 'pilot experiment,' has been committed in the mind without the individual ever being committed to the deed. Like adult criminals, many disturbed adolescents seem unable to do this pilot experiment; there seems to be nothing which can be interposed between impulse and action. This state is known as psychopathological. Some adolescents resort to violence for what seems to them to be good reasons. What determines the course of violent actions depends upon the person's ability to feel sorry for the harm done to a hurt victim or defeated adversary. Some adolescents possess this braking mechanism so that their violence is self-limited, while others become more and more violent with each successive act. Thus, the less the psychic capacity to digest and metabolize certain experiences, the more there is a wish for action. A recommended model for dealing with delinquent adolescents in penal institutions involves several years of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Concurrently, the adolescent is allowed to develop a special relationship with an understanding adult, in a work situation, who is a liked and respected authority figure. A total of 11 references are supplied.