Psychological Chapter - Happy Teenage Years

Author: Han Shi, Shang Jinlong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Case Three: University Graduate Stabs Relative A university graduate, Sun, was rejected by his father when asking for pocket money and subsequently stabbed his father to death with a knife. Upon investigation, Sun had just graduated from a university in Nanjing and had always wanted to stay in Nanjing for development, but was forcibly brought back to Hangzhou by his father, leaving him resentful. One day, when he asked his father for 500 yuan in pocket money and was refused on the grounds that his mother had already given him 500 yuan, Sun grew resentful. He believed that his current dissatisfaction in life was entirely due to his father, and unable to control his anger, he choked his father unconscious and then stabbed him to death with a knife. Case Four: High School Student Commits Suicide by Hanging A high school graduate named Xiao Hai in Jinan tore up his acceptance letter to an art academy after an argument with his family and committed suicide by hanging at home. Upon investigation, this student had been raised in an environment of parental overindulgence, with his parents always meeting his every demand. This year, he was fortunate to be admitted to an art academy after the college entrance examination. After receiving the acceptance letter, he demanded a computer from his parents. The working-class parents, unable to meet his demands, argued with his mother. In anger, he tore up the acceptance letter, and his mother, feeling helpless, drank 200 sleeping pills and Xiao Hai committed suicide by hanging at home. Why are there increasingly incidents of teenagers running away from home, committing suicide, or killing family members? Why do teenagers face so many problems? Why do they resort to such extreme behaviors? They either run away from home, commit suicide, or even brutally kill family members. What is wrong with them? Expert Viewpoint: Experts have analyzed the situation and provided suggestions.
Family Aspect: In modern families, most children are only children, and they tend to be self-centered with a low level of social awareness. When they encounter problems, they cannot communicate with their peers, leading to self-isolation and a reluctance to share their issues with others, resulting in a lack of social support. Currently, Chinese family education faces many problems, which can be broadly categorized into indulgent, authoritarian, harmonious, and indifferent types.
Indulgent Type: In indulgent families, parents meet all their children's demands, fostering a completely self-centered approach to dealing with issues. In their mindset, they believe they are the center of the universe, only focusing on their immediate desires and needs. When their wishes or demands are not met, they become psychologically imbalanced, running away from home, or even threatening to take their own lives.
Harmonious Type: In families where parents are divorced or have marital conflicts, the mental health of children is affected. Growing up in an environment of family disharmony, children may lower their expectations of their parents and lose trust in them, naturally avoiding sharing their problems with them. Over time, they become self-isolated, unable to solve the problems and doubts in their lives, which can easily lead to psychological issues in teenagers.
Indifferent Type: In indifferent families, some parents are too busy with work to communicate with their children, neglecting their family responsibilities and leaving their children's communication needs unmet. Such families can also hinder the psychological development of teenagers.
School Aspect: China's education system prioritizes high academic performance, with both families and schools focusing on grades rather than overall quality, suppressing children's creativity and normal survival skills. Learning becomes a burden for teenagers, and when the pressure becomes too great and is not released, it can lead to a series of problems.
Social Aspect: The rapid development of the modern internet, including online games, violent, and murder-themed movies and TV shows, has a significant impact on teenagers. Some children, who have not been trained to handle setbacks, may resort to killing family members in despair after facing failures.
Expert Suggestions: Teenagers' psychological maturity should align with their physical maturity. When there is a mismatch, timely guidance is needed to prevent tragic events.
From a family perspective, parents should pay close attention to their children's emotions, especially providing care for those taking the Zhongkao and Gaokao exams. When children show signs of excitement, depression, rebellion, or anxiety, it is essential to provide timely guidance. Love without indulgence, strictness without cruelty.
From a school perspective, mental health education for students should be emphasized, and teachers should receive professional psychological training to stay informed about students' mental states and prevent issues before they arise.
From a social perspective, more attention should be given to the mental health of teenagers, and more opportunities should be provided for them to...