Developmental Psychotherapy for Antisocial Adolescents

Title:Developmental Psychotherapy for Antisocial Adolescents

Volume: 8 Issue: 1

Author(s): Alfio Maggiolini*Virginia Suigo

Affiliation:

• Department of Psychology, University Milan-Bicocca, Milan,Italy

Keywords: Developmental psychopathology, psychotherapy, disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders, antisocial adolescents, young offenders.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Antisocial behavior is common during adolescence and incurs significant costs both for society and for the young people themselves. While most adolescents will not continue on a trajectory of antisocial behavior as they age, they may still be affected years later in terms of educational and employment opportunities. Despite stated goals of rehabilitation, there is a tendency for society to focus on harsh sentencing and punitive approaches, which have not been demonstrated to work.

This paper presents an overview of theory and research on antisocial behavior and describes an approach that incorporates a developmental understanding of delinquent youth with a psychoanalytically informed perspective on treatment.

Method: This method has been employed successfully over the past 20 years in combination with a comprehensive approach in the context of a juvenile justice system that allows for young offenders to be given provisional sentences and to have their criminal charges dismissed if they successfully complete the program.

Results: Developmental psychotherapy is a viable and feasible approach for young offenders. It has the promise of more long-lasting effects than approaches that depend primarily on containment or punishment.

Cite this article as:

Maggiolini Alfio*, Suigo Virginia, Developmental Psychotherapy for Antisocial Adolescents, Adolescent Psychiatry 2018; 8 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2210676608666180502101353