NCJ Number
58775
Date Published
1978
Length
35 pages
Annotation
MASS MEDIA INFLUENCE ON THE BEHAVIOR OF YOUTHS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF SCHOOL-RELATED CRIME, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
SCHOOL CRIME IS BUT ONE FEATURE OF THE YOUTH CULTURE, WHICH IN TURN IS PARTIALLY SHAPED AND DEFINED BY THE MEDIA CULTURE--THE ASSUMPTIONS, TECHNIQUES, AND KNOWLEDGE INVOLVED IN PRODUCING AND PRESENTING MESSAGES THROUGH TELEVISION, RADIO, MOTION PICTURES, NEWSPAPERS, AND MAGAZINES. THE MEDIA CULTURE CONTRIBUTES TO PUBLIC DEFINITIONS OF AND BELIEFS ABOUT THE NATURE OF YOUTH. YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN APPROPRIATE WAYS OF BEING YOUTHFUL FROM THE MASS MEDIA, AND WHAT THEY LEARN MAY BE AT ODDS WITH THE PERSPECTIVES OF PARENTS, SCHOOL OFFICIALS, AND OTHER ADULTS. OFTEN THE MASS MEDIA AND THE NOSTALGIC RECOLLECTIONS OF ADULTS UNWITTINGLY COMBINE TO PROMOTE DEVIANT ACTIVITIES AMONG YOUTHS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL. FOR EXAMPLE, TELEVISION PROGRAMMING IS PARTICULARLY LIKELY TO PORTRAY YOUTH AS A TIME OF IRRESPONSIBILITY AND FUN. THIS MESSAGE ID REINFORECED BY ADULTS WHO SEEM TO VALUE THE BRAVADO AND INDEPENDENCE OF THEIR 'HELL-RAISING' DAYS, AS LONG AS THIS BEHAVIOR IS CONFINED TO THE CONTEXT OF A PARTICULAR TIME IN THEIR OWN LIVES. THE MASS MEDIA DO NOT ALWAYS DIRECTLY DETERMINE ACTIONS. RATHER, REPEATED IMAGES AND THEMES PLAY A PART IN DEFINING SOCIAL REALITY AND EXPLAINING A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS. YOUTH IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION THAT IS CONSTANTLY REIFIED BY ADULTS AND BY EACH GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THE MASS MEDIA CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROCESS BY UPDATING SYMBOLIC MEANINGS AND POTENTIAL FOOTHOLDS IN THE CLIMB TOWARD ADULT STATUS. THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS DESERVING OF INVESTIGATION, THROUGH STUDIES OF MEDIA IMAGES OF YOUTH, HOW YOUNG PEOPLE USE MASS MEDIA, AND HOW MASS MEDIA MESSAGES CONTRIBUTE TO CHANGES IN LIFESTYLE, ARGOT, AND PERCEPTION OF ADULT AUTHORITY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)