The two random attacks that occurred on Monday are products of the isolation, alienation and loneliness suffered by young people in today’s society, experts said yesterday.
Young people are prone to feeling lonely and being misunderstood, and they can easily seek the wrong outlets to release their emotions, said Lin Lien-chang (林聯章), chief executive officer of the Teacher Chang Foundation, one of the nation’s largest counseling groups.
A lack of face-to-face interaction in the Internet age also intensifies people’s sense of isolation, Lin said.
A 27-year-old man was arrested for wielding a knife in a random attack that wounded four people on Taipei’s Mass Rapid Transit system on Monday. The same day, a 15-year-old apparently attacked a woman on the streets of New Taipei City, also with a knife.
Asia University Department of Psychology chair professor Ko Huei-chen (柯慧貞) said many of the aggressors in these violent attacks come from dysfunctional families that have failed to provide them with a sense of security and belonging.
Some of these young people join gangs and engage in antisocial behavior, Ko said.
Schools can sometimes make up for the lack of a strong role model in the family, but these young people can be further marginalized if schools fail to provide the care and support they need, she said.
Taiwan Counseling Psychologist Union secretary-general Hsiu Hui-lan (修慧蘭) said many young people do not feel a sense of accomplishment, and repeated failures at school and at a work drive many of them to alcohol and drugs, which can easily cause them to lose all sense of reason.
Hsiu advised young people to admit to their frustrations and failings, and to seek help from family members, teachers, friends or professional counseling groups.
Tsai advised people to keep an eye on their family members and friends, and to spend time talking to them if they show signs of distress.
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