adolescent alienation. internalizing problems over-controlled: families that exercise tight...

Contemporary Adolescence

Adolescent Alienation

Two types of problems Internalizing problems

• Over-controlled: families that exercise tight psychological control

• Often experience distress Externalizing problems

• Under-controlled: families where parental monitoring and control is lacking

• Often do not experience distress

Internalizing problems: Depression

Major depressive disorder:• Depressed or irritable mood for most of the day,

nearly every day• Reduced interest or pleasure in all or almost all

activities• Significant weight loss or gain; decrease in appetite• Insomnia or oversleeping• Psychomotor agitation or retardation• Low energy or fatigue• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt• Diminished ability to think or concentrate• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide


Adolescents have higher rates of depressed mood than adults or children

Episodes of depressed mood before adolescence are relatively rare

Rates of depressed mood rise steeply from age 10 to about 15-17, then decline


Treatments:• Medication• Psychotherapy

Different models of therapy Self-acceptance Self-esteem

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents

1 2

50%50%1. Yes2. No

Internalizing problems: Suicide

Suicide attempts are usually preceded by symptoms of depression• But usually happen when symptoms are

going away Risk factors:

• Family problems• Relationship problems• External factors: school

Internalizing problems: Suicide

Three groups:• Experiencing years of problems with family,

peers and teachers• Struggle with mental illness such as

depression or bipolar• Previously functioning well, but experience

an acute crisis

Externalizing problems: Risky Driving

Inexperience is one contributing factor to accidents

Risk taking is also a major factor Solutions:

• Parental involvement and monitoring• Drivers ed vs. Graduated driver licensing

Externalizing problems:Delinquency

Three kinds of criminal acts:• Status offenses: violations of the law

because they are committed by juveniles• Index crimes: serious crimes

Property crimes: robbery, theft, arson Violent crimes: rape, assault, murder

• Nonindex crimes: less serious offenses like illegal gambling and disorderly conduct


Two types of delinquency• Life-course persistent delinquents: show a

pattern of problems from birth onward• Adolescence-limited delinquents: no

problems in infancy, childhood, or adulthood


Interventions:• Individual therapy• Group therapy• Vocational training• “Outward Bound” programs• Scared Straight


Problems with interventions:• Delinquents rarely welcome the opportunity

to participate in them• Programs take place in adolescence, after a

pattern has already developed Programs that do work:

• Multisystemic approach

Externalizing problems:Running away

Two types of runaways• Intent runaways: those that intend to leave

for a long time• Transient runaways: those that intend to be

gone for a limited amount of time

Gangs Why adolescents join gangs

• Low self-esteem• Poor relationships with parents• Unresolved ethnic identities

adolescent alienation. internalizing problems over-controlled: families that exercise tight...

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