Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | James Garbarino |
| Products | Non-fiction book on youth violence and prevention |
Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them is a 2000 publication authored by psychologist James Garbarino, which investigates the widespread issue of violent behavior among male youth in the United States.
Part I
Garbarino combines quantitative research methods with in-depth interviews involving juvenile offenders and violent adolescents on death row.
He examines both biological influences and environmental conditions that contribute to aggressive behavior, often identified as conduct disorder or persistent misconduct. The author stresses the importance of viewing violent youths as boys rather than small-scale adult criminals, challenging prevailing notions derived from Anna Freud's theories that adolescence is separate from childhood.
The book identifies attachment disorder during infancy as a possible root of future violent tendencies. Experiences of trauma inflicted by parents or caregivers may cause emotional detachment, which undermines empathy and social skills—elements that heighten the risk of violent actions.
Part II
Garbarino contends that young individuals exposed to overstimulating surroundings benefit from calmer environments for successful intervention. He proposes preventive strategies and systemic reforms targeting violent youth offenders.
His detailed framework includes:
- Programs where home visitors guide at-risk mothers on effective parenting
- Early identification and intervention for childhood aggression
- School-centered violence prevention initiatives
- Efforts to foster spiritual growth
- Encouragement of constructive peer relationships during adolescence
Preventative measures incorporate family systems therapy and behavior therapy, while rehabilitation emphasizes cognitive behavioral therapy alongside existential methodologies.
Critiquing the boot camp approach to incarceration, Garbarino recommends a monastery-inspired model led by spiritual mentors who encourage meditation and introspection. This method seeks to enhance inmates’ understanding of how their violent acts affect victims, society, and their communities.
Critical response
- Elliot Pittel M.D., from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, remarks:
"Lost Boys offers a significant addition to research on the origins and prevention of youth violence."
- Marian Wright Edelman, President and Founder of the Children's Defense Fund, commends the work:
"Jim Garbarino raises urgent awareness about youth violence—highlighting pain and social isolation at its core while providing insight, compassion, and pathways for prevention and intervention."
- Michael Cunningham, affiliated with the Department of Psychology at Tulane University, provides nuanced commentary:
"Garbarino explores timely issues regarding biological and social determinants of violence through an ecological lens, yielding thought-provoking findings." Nonetheless, some sections "prompt more questions than definitive answers."
- Sharon G. Portwood, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of Women's & Gender Studies at University of Missouri-Kansas City, states:
"James Garbarino delivers a coherent and persuasive explanation for why boys engage in violence and how this trajectory can be altered."
- Deborah Lazarus Psy.D. adds:
"He has addressed a challenging subject with skill, clarifying complex issues and proposing methods to improve outcomes."
External links
- , Random House Publishing
- Complete Summary available at Psychpage