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Social alienation among young people
SOTIRIS. KOTSOPOULOS*
Dr. Child Psychiatrist
Abstract
An outline of personal views is recorded here on the socially dysfunctional behaviors observed among young people in their acquaintance with modern society and in search for a place in it. Two extreme forms of behavior indicate alienation from the social fabric: a) Social withdrawal, self-abandonment (drug addiction). b) Opposition, aggression (social violence). Both these forms of youth alienation are becoming of a major concern in modern Greece.
a) Social withdrawal, self-abandonment (drug addiction). The first signs may first be observed at the primary school but this kind of behavior becomes stable in the years of secondary school. The adolescent fails in school and is unable to set goals for the future. He/she gradually slides into the faulty tranquility of the various substances which are easily accessible. The origins of this problem may lay in the family, in the failure of the social services and the school to take adequate care for the child at risk, the marginalization of the adolescent with limited abilities for a successful adjustment and participation actively in social life.
b) Opposition, aggression (social violence). The oppositional and aggressive youth fails at school and may become a bully to peers. Latter he robs elderly people in the streets and it does not take long to become member of a gang. The aggressive youth also discovers that there is a place for him in the world of the anarchist movement in the large cities. The idealization of the aggressive youth offered by the media is a very strong reinforcing factor which is very difficult to counteract. Anger and hatred may underlie youth’s activities for having been left out from the active and creative society.
Prevention is the best means of protection for the child and the adolescent against failure at school and social marginalization. Prevention requires family, social and school policies well coordinated that assist those in need. Not least important is the development in students of critical mind that may protect them from social fanaticism and ultimately from violent behaviour. Encephalos 2011, 48(2):87-88.
Key words: Youth, social alienation, withdrawal-self-abandonment, oppositional behaviour-aggression.
Introduction
An outline of personal views is recorded here on the socially dysfunctional behaviors observed among young people while they are getting acquainted with modern society and searching for a place in it. Two extreme forms of behavior indicate alienation from the social fabric: a) Social withdrawal, self-abandonment (drug addiction). b) Opposition, aggression (social violence, acts of terrorism). Both these forms of youth alienation are becoming a major problem in modern Greece and require attention and social care. A distinction must be made between the normal variations of child and adolescent behaviors of social withdrawal or rebelliousness and the severe and persistent alienation which has severe consequences on the life of the person and among those around him and is the object of this brief report.
a) Social withdrawal, self-abandonment (drug addiction)
The first signs of social withdrawal may be observed at the primary school level but this kind of behavior becomes stable in the secondary school years. The child fails in school. Later on the adolescent abandons the effort to advance himself and appears unable to set and pursue goals for his future. He/she gradually slides into the faulty tranquility of the various substances which are affordable and easily accessible. Many among these youth advance towards death. Several factors seem to congregate and have this effect e.g. dysfunctional family, failure of the social services and of the school to take adequate care of the child at risk, marginalization of the adolescent who has limited abilities which block his adjustment and participation in active social life.
b) Opposition, aggression (social violence)
An understanding of youthful aggression and destructiveness is not easy and various interpretations may be offered for this bevaviour. The oppositional and aggressive youth fails in school and may become a bully to peers. Latter he may become a robber of elderly people in the streets and may not take long to become member of a gang. The aggressive youth also discovers that there is a place for him in the world of the anarchist movement in the large cities. The youngster with conduct disorder finds also approval in the context of the prevalent social anomie. Furthermore the idealization of the aggressive youth offered by the media is a very strong reinforcing factor which is very difficult to control. Anger and hatred may also underlie the youth’s activities for having been left out from the active and creative society.
Prevention
Prevention is the best means of protection for the child and the adolescent against failure at school and social marginalization. Prevention requires family, social and school policies well coordinated that may assist those in need. The changes occurring in the structure and function of the modern family are substantial affecting the care for the child and the adolescent. Major problem, requiring urgent attention, is the neglect and the maltreatment of the young child. Educating young couples how to become competent parents is essential. The child failing in school needs the attention of the special social and academic services. Not least important is the development in students critical mind that may protect them from social fanaticism and ultimately from violent behaviour.
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