This study sought to explore the relationship between psychological differentiation and locus of control among compulsive adolescent substance abusers who are residents of a therapeutic community and their parents. The findings support the conclusion that compulsive adolescent substance abusers are psychologically undifferentiated. These youths are involved in a pseudo-individuated relationship with their mothers who are psychologically and emotionally unavailable while their fathers are peripheral. The findings that these youths become more undifferentiated and hold more internal locus of control beliefs with increasing time in the program are viewed as the effects of residence in a therapeutic community. The residents internalize the therapeutic community belief system of personal responsibility while substituting their dependence on their mothers and drugs for dependence on the therapeutic community. Implications for treatment and further research are also discussed.
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