Mending the Broken Circle


Normal Attached Loving Friendly Intimate Gregarious Cooperative Trusting	Distorted Gang Loyalty Craves Affection Craves Acceptance Promiscuous Clinging Cult Vulnerable Overly Dependent	Absent Unattached Guarded Rejected Lonely Aloof Isolated Distrustful	Normal Altruistic Caring Sharing Loyal Empathic Pro-social Supportive	Distorted Noblesse Oblige Over-involved Plays Martyr Co Dependency Over-involvement Servitude Bondage	Absent Selfish Affectionless Narcissistic Disloyal Hardened Anti Social Exploitative
Some youth who feel rejected are struggling to find artificial, distorted belongings through behavior such as attention seeking or running with gangs. Others have abandoned the pursuit and are reluctant to form human attachments. In either case, their unmet needs can be addressed by corrective relationships of trust and intimacy.			Without opportunities to give to others, young people do not develop as wing persons. Some may be involved in pseudo altruistic helping or they nay be locked in servitude to someone who uses them. Others plunge into life styles of hedonism and narcissism. The antidote for this malaise is to Experience the joys that accrue from helping others.

Normal Autonomous Confident Assertive Responsible Inner Control Self Discipline Leadership	Distorted Dictatorial Reckless/Macho Bullies Others Sexual Prowess Manipulative Rebellious Defies Authority	Absent Submissive Lacks Confidence Inferiority Irresponsible Helplessness Undisciplined Easily Led	Normal Achiever Successful Creative Problem Solver Motivated Persistent Competent	Distorted Overachiever Arrogant Risk Seeker Cheater Workaholic Perseverative Delinquent Skill	Absent Non-achiever Failure Oriented Avoids Risks Fears Challenges Un-motivated Gives Up Easily Inadequate
Fighting against feelings of powerlessness, some youth assert themselves in rebellious and aggressive ways. Those who believe they are too weak or impotent to manage their own lives become pawns of others. These young people need opportunities to develop the skills and the confidence to assert positive leadership and self discipline.			Frustrated in their attempts to achieve, children may seek to prove their competence in distorted ways, such as skill ' in delinquent activity. Others have learned to retreat from difficult challenges by giving up in futility. The remedy for these problems is involvement in an environment with abundant opportunities for meaningful achievement.

Source: Brendtro et al, (1990) Reclaiming Youth At Risk National Education Service, Bloomington, Ind