Nurturing Pillars of Society: Understanding and Working with the Young Generation in Hong Kong

4 - Models for Working with Young People

4 Models for Working with Young People ■ The Deficit Model The Deficit Model of youth work, which reflects negative perceptions of young people, is now out of favour in most Western countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States. But the model’s underlying values and one major assumption are still evident in youth work development in Hong Kong. The development of this model was closely related to traditional views of social welfare, according to which social welfare is intended for people incapable of taking care of themselves and in need of assistance. Burt et al., (1992) suggested that this model is implicitly negative toward those seen as unable to help themselves. We will now examine the values and the assumptions at issues with the use of this model. Values Assuming that the value base of the deficit model has negative views of young people embedded in it, several of its implicit values or assumed beliefs regarding young people can be identified. Young people are difficult to understand One basic assumption implicit in the deficit model is that young people are difficult to understand. As suggested in the previous chapter’s section on the “storm and stress” of adolescents, it seems due to the inability of adults to comprehend the behaviour of young people that the latter’s thinking and behaviour are regarded as beyond comprehension. This suggests that the problem is located among adults, not young people. 30 Nurturing Pillars of Society Young people are problematic Another belief inherent in the deficit model is that the young are problematic. Beginning with the belief that young people are difficult to understand, it is also logical to view them as problematic, since their attitudes and behaviour (which are beyond comprehension) are unpredictable and uncontrollable. They are perceived as having many problems that they cannot handle or solve. Perceiving them as immature, lacking in selfcontrol and in the ability to cope with stress (Lee and Cham, 2000), it is understandable that they are taken to be problematic. Young people are rebellious The model also casts young people as rebellious. Their attitudes and behaviour are also nonconformist, deviant, unruly, and antisocial (Sautter, 1994). They have an unfavourable relationship with adults and do not trust them, nor do they take adults’ advice. Their behaviour is beyond control and would easily run counter to the law. Young people have numerous weaknesses and shortcomings It may also be said that the deficit model is given to identifying weaknesses among the young as opposed to their strengths. It is due to these weaknesses and shortcomings that they face so many problems they are unable to solve. The belief is that young people are incapable to help themselves—and so need to be helped and assisted. Young people are given to misbehaviour As young people do not listen to adults’ advice and are rebellious, they often misbehave. Poor behaviour may bring them into conflict with various systems, such as the family, school, and law enforcement. The misbehaviour of the young is also taken to be evidence of weaknesses and shortcomings that need to be corrected. A basic assumption There is one essential assumption in the deficit model when applying it to work with young people. It is this: The misbehaviour of young people must be corrected, punished, or deterred through various means. Different practices in youth services flow from this assumption and are then implemented. They can, indeed, be recognised in the youth services made available in Hong Kong. Models for Working with Young People 31 Practice The values/assumptions we find implicit in the deficit model have significant consequences in the practical provision of youth services. The following are some principles for youth service practitioners in Hong Kong that illustrate the model’s influence. A pessimistic view of young people Employing a deficit view of young people is to take a pessimistic perspective upon them. They are seen as a “deficit” or a “negative asset” in society. In the case of Hong Kong, youth services are seen as huge government expenditures that taxpayers have to bear. Hence the status of youth as a negative asset. Problem-oriented services The implementation of youth services in Hong Kong is problem-oriented (Chiu, 2002). That is, with the occurrence of a new kind of youth problem or problematic behaviour, some kinds of service intended to address it will be put into practice. It is, of course...