the countering the influence is tough.
one of my mentor's examples of teh behavior of such groups is like that of a bunch of crabs in a tin bucket..as one is trying to get out the others will pull it back in...
so someone who is frsutrated because he is unable to get through, of he is around people who are saying hey its not your fault, system is bad, and its not worth it etc. Its an easier message to hear than something along the lines of dude..you have to be serious.
the key is to help them see that there is a way without putting them down yet not accepting that they cant do any better than they have.
That reminds me of an old joke you might or might not have heard it.
On the judgment day there were many wells in hell with fire burning in them and people being punished.
On each of those wells there was an angel who would push the people back in if they would try to get out.
There was one well with no angel guarding it so one of angel observed it and asked to other angel how come ?
This angel replied this well is for Pakistani people we do not need to guard it. If one Pakistani tries to get out others pull that person back in. :D