This paper names and describes a common, growing, and dangerous psychological syndrome: Youth Violence Syndrome (YVS). YVS is characterized by at least nine behaviors: (1) hopelessness; (2) a complete or great disregard for the laws followed by most Americans; (3) a short temper combined with a lack of empathy; (4) a desire for respect from others where such respect has not been earned; (5) an act or acts of violence against another person; (6) unemployment or employment in a minimum- or low-wage job; (7) an extremely high desire for expensive consumer goods; (8) acting-out to obtain expensive consumer goods illegally; and (9) a high school drop-out or a high school graduate with deficient reading and math skills. Also discussed are the causes of this syndrome, including the social conditions that make someone susceptible to YVS. Although YVS appears to be an essentially psychological syndrome, psychotherapeutic techniques to ameliorate its effects on an individual are yet to be determined. Social interventions directed toward improving the quality of an individual's life will probably be more effective in changing and preventing YVS than any psychotherapy. A multifaceted approach to the problem of youth violence is necessary, one that includes real educational as well as economic opportunity. (RJM)