Policy Press
Four Responding at the personal (P) level
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Abstract
This chapter outlines how workers can respond on a personal, individual level to youth violence. The authors illustrate how the unpredictable nature of the physical and social space in which youth workers operate requires them to capitalise on and privilege spontaneous encounters and not be afraid to use them to begin to challenge or constructively confront violent behaviour. The authors show how these behaviours are meeting deep needs and that youth workers need to find ways to get young people to understand and acknowledge that, and identify how they may be able to meet these needs in other, less destructive, ways. Part of this process may involve presenting oneself as a blueprint for change, in the context of a relationship that needs to be characterised by warmth, trust and respect, but which should not collude with neutralisation of violence or abandon the young person in the face of structural forces. The authors argue that supporting young people to move into voluntary and paid roles where they can help and support others creates the opportunity for them to move into a generative phase of their own life cycle.
Abstract
This chapter outlines how workers can respond on a personal, individual level to youth violence. The authors illustrate how the unpredictable nature of the physical and social space in which youth workers operate requires them to capitalise on and privilege spontaneous encounters and not be afraid to use them to begin to challenge or constructively confront violent behaviour. The authors show how these behaviours are meeting deep needs and that youth workers need to find ways to get young people to understand and acknowledge that, and identify how they may be able to meet these needs in other, less destructive, ways. Part of this process may involve presenting oneself as a blueprint for change, in the context of a relationship that needs to be characterised by warmth, trust and respect, but which should not collude with neutralisation of violence or abandon the young person in the face of structural forces. The authors argue that supporting young people to move into voluntary and paid roles where they can help and support others creates the opportunity for them to move into a generative phase of their own life cycle.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Acknowledgements v
- Foreword vi
- Introduction 1
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Literature review, theoretical frame and researching youth violence
- Youth work and youth violence in a European context 13
- Our theoretical frame 27
- Using participatory methods to research youth violence 47
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Meaningful responses to youth violence
- Responding at the personal (P) level 71
- Responding at the community (C) level 91
- Responding at the structural (S) level 109
- Responding at the existential (E) level 121
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Rethinking youth work practice and policy
- Rethinking some youth worker ‘tales’ 137
- Working with intersectional identities 149
- Creating policy for good practice 165
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Youth work responses in action: case studies of praxis
- Responding to structural and symbolic violence: a comparative case study 183
- A sports-based response to youth violence 195
- Exploring ‘confrontational pedagogy’ 209
- Embedding community work 219
- Ethnopraxis in action 227
- Imagining realistic alternatives 237
- References 247
- Index 269
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Acknowledgements v
- Foreword vi
- Introduction 1
-
Literature review, theoretical frame and researching youth violence
- Youth work and youth violence in a European context 13
- Our theoretical frame 27
- Using participatory methods to research youth violence 47
-
Meaningful responses to youth violence
- Responding at the personal (P) level 71
- Responding at the community (C) level 91
- Responding at the structural (S) level 109
- Responding at the existential (E) level 121
-
Rethinking youth work practice and policy
- Rethinking some youth worker ‘tales’ 137
- Working with intersectional identities 149
- Creating policy for good practice 165
-
Youth work responses in action: case studies of praxis
- Responding to structural and symbolic violence: a comparative case study 183
- A sports-based response to youth violence 195
- Exploring ‘confrontational pedagogy’ 209
- Embedding community work 219
- Ethnopraxis in action 227
- Imagining realistic alternatives 237
- References 247
- Index 269
