1 YOUNG MEN IN WESTERN SYDNEY AND QUALITY SERVICE ...

6This highlights the need to recognise the existence of both individual and contextualvariables, which influence young people’s engagement in crime and violence. Lerner etal (1998:11) cites other research, which demonstrates that aggressive conduct has beenlinked to individual variables such as an aggressive personality (Cairns and Cairns1994); poor judgement (Graham et al 1997); and the sex of the young person(Ketterlinus et al 1994). Yet, Lerner et al (1998:11)) also cites research thatdemonstrates contextual variables such as peer and family influences. These includerigid family relations that lack cohesion and the existence of highly aggressive peers(Baske et al 1989).Thus, there is some concern that the type of interventions proposed by service providersin Western Sydney may tend to focus on individual factors only. Research indicates thatyouth service providers tend to focus on day-to-day issues the individual client presentrather than on the structural issues that underpin the presenting problems (Flowers1998).Effective programs for dealing with youth crime and violence have been found to bethose that involve all the people with a role in the positive development of theindividual young person, including the young person himself or herself (Lerner1998:11). Subsequently, rather than focusing on ‘anger management’, programs shouldattempt to deal with the various other problems facing the young person, in anintegrated approach.Hence, further consultations and analysis of current programs in Western Sydneyaddressing ‘anger management’ is required. It would be of great concern if youthservice providers were only providing programs that failed to address the social, culturaland familial influences impacting on young men in relation to violence and aggression.4. Effective interventions for the development of resiliency in young peopleStrategies for modifying negative presenting behaviour, such as anger managementgroups and so on, tend to be focused on reducing the likelihood or risk of a negativebehaviour or outcome. However, research indicates that projects that focus on riskreductiondo not work (Blum 1998). There is a movement away from a focus on riskfactors. Current research and literature now focuses on resiliency and the importance ofthe adaptation of individuals, families and communities through the development ofprotective factors.Blum (1999:2) argues that interventions that focus on the attainment of knowledgeand/or used fear as a means for motivation are unlikely to reduce the problem beingtargeted and are even likely to exacerbate the problem. This is namely due to lack ofconsideration about the factors that motivate behavioural change.Dusenbury et al (1997, cited in Blum 1999:5) identify the following themes and featuresof unsuccessful interventions:• Scare tactics• Segregating aggressive students