SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF ADOLESCENCE - TOWARD AN EXPLANATION FOR INCREASING RATES OF VIOLENCE IN YOUTH (FROM LETHAL ASPECTS OF URBAN VIOLENCE, 1979, BY HAROLD M ROSE - SEE NCJ-54970)

• NCJ Number: 54972
• Author(s): F EARLS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM PERSPECTIVES IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE V 22, N 1 (AUGUST 1978) - EARLIER VERSION WAS PRESENTED AT THE LETHAL ASPECTS OF URBAN VIOLENCE, URBAN RESEARCH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, MAY 1977

Annotation

THE VIEW THAT ADOLESCENTS ARE HELPING TO CONSTRUCT A SOCIETY IN WHICH VIOLENCE IS A NORMATIVE EXPERIENCE IS CONSIDERED IN AN EXPLORATION OF THE SOCIOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE.

Abstract

IN CONTRAST TO THE PHYSICAL PHENOMENON OF PUBERTY, ADOLESCENCE IS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON INVOLVING THE PREPARATION OF THE YOUNG FOR ADULT ROLES. AS IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH CARE AND NUTRITION HAVE RESULTED IN EARLIER ONSET OF PUBERTY, THE DEMANDS OF INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WORK ROLES HAVE LENGTHENED THE PERIOD OF ADOLESCENCE AND DELAYED THE MATURATION OF BEHAVIOR. THE PRODUCTS OF THIS EVOLUTION ARE BIOLOGICALLY PREPARED, SOCIALLY IMMATURE PEOPLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NOTABLE INCREASES IN DEATHS FROM MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS, HOMICIDES, AND SUICIDES AMONG ADOLESCENTS SINCE 1960. GENERALLY, SOME FORM OF INTERACTION AMONG BIOLOGICAL, FAMILY, AND SOCIAL FACTORS IS THOUGHT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENT ASPECTS OF THIS INCREASED MORTALITY. BUT THE CRITICAL FACTOR IS THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ORDER OF THE TIMES. USING THEIR NEWLY ACQUIRED COGNITIVE ABILITY, ADOLESCENTS EXAMINE THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND THE POSSIBILITIES IT HOLDS FOR THEM. THE OUTCOME OF THIS EXAMINATION DETERMINES THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE ADOLESCENT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR DESTRUCTION OF SOCIETY. MANY YOUTHS LOOK AT THE DEMANDS, COMPETITION, AND COMPLEXITY THAT LIE BETWEEN THEM AND SUCCESS AND CONCLUDE, SOMETIMES PRECIPITOUSLY AND SOMETIMES AFTER CONSIDERABLE INSPECTION, THAT THERE ARE NO REASONABLE OBJECTIVES OR REWARDS IN SOCIETY. THEY THEN RESORT TO DEFEATIST, GIVE-UP ATTITUDES AND COMPENSATORY FACE-SAVING TACTICS. YOUTHS MAY DIFFER IN THE RESOURCES THEY BRING TO THEIR COGNITIVE TASK AND IN THE CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH THEY MUST ACCOMPLISH IT, BUT THE PROCESS ITSELF IS A RATIONAL ONE AND IT IS AT THE HEART OF VIOLENCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS. IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CONCEPT OF ADOLESCENT SOCIALIZATION FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, PUBLIC POLICY, AND THE SOCIAL ORDER ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO RESEARCH DIRECTIONS AND RESEARCH NEEDS IN THE FIELD OF ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)