DEVIANCE THEORY, BLACK YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

• NCJ Number: 46370
• Author(s): P L STEWART
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 26 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE BLACK FAMILY IN AMERICA - BLACK YOUTH, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, MARCH 1976

Annotation

FACTORS IN THE INTERACTIONS OF BLACK YOUTHS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE PROFESSION ARE DISCUSSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF LABELING BLACK YOUTHS AS DEVIANTS.

Abstract

THE DISCUSSION ENCOMPASSES VALUES, NORMS, AND ACCEPTANCE AS THEY RELATE TO BLACK YOUTHS AS DEVIANTS; AND THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND BLACK YOUTHS. IT IS CONTENDED THAT BLACK YOUTHS ARE NOT IN NEED OF SPECIAL SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS. IT IS THE ROLE ASSIGNED TO BLACK YOUTH BY SOCIETY THAT IS AT ISSUE. BLACK YOUTHS, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY TEND TO BE TREATED BY PERSONS WHO SHARE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT THEIR VALUES AND LIFE STYLE, ARE DENIED ACCESS TO EQUAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN DIGNITY. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE OF THE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES WITH WHICH BLACK YOUTHS MUST CONTEND. SUCH AN UNDERSTANDING WOULD ASSURE THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKER -- AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL -- OF GREATER SUCCESS IN DEALING WITH ANY POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN DEFINED AS DEVIANT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)