NCJ Number
101453
Date Published
1986
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Within the context of an ecological perspective, this chapter examines the role of social support in (1) the etiology of youth violence and (2) efforts to develop effective intervention programs.
Abstract
The ecological perspective views the child as functioning within an ecosystem, all parts of which interact to influence each other. Thus, youth violence can be understood as a lack of congruence among the ecosystem's parts. A variety of social systems shape the child's social and emotional development, including the family, peers, school, the community, and the wider culture. From the ecological perspective, the goal of any intervention is to make the child's support system work harmoniously through interventions aimed at changing the child, the environment, and/or attitudes and expectations. Social support may be delivered through formal helping institutions such as psychiatric hospitals, juvenile detention facilities, or community-based service programs. In general, those formal efforts most likely to be successful are those that offer a comprehensive package of services that focus on both the child and other system components (e.g., family, peers, school). The effectiveness of these formal support services can be enhanced through informal community, family, and peer helping networks and self-help groups. 1 note and 46 references.