VIOLENCE AND THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE AS REFLECTED IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS FROM 1850 TO 1970

• NCJ Number: 35776
• Author(s): M D HUGGINS; M A STRAUS
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH-15521
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; University of New Hampshire
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT MEETING OF EASTERN SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 1975

Annotation

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA AND VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY IS EXAMINED BY A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF FIVE CHILDRENS CLASSICS PUBLISHED IN EACH OF THE FIVE YEAR INTERVALS FROM 1850 THROUGH 1970.

Abstract

THE ANALYSIS REVEALED NO LONG TERM TREND. HOWEVER, FICTIONAL VIOLENCE TENDED TO INCREASE IN WARTIME AND TO DECREASE DURING PERIODS OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION. ALMOST ALL THE BOOKS SAMPLED HAD ONE OR MORE VIOLENT EPISODES, WITH A MEAN OF 2.1 VIOLENT ACTS PER 15 PAGES. MOST OF THE INITIATORS AND RECIPIENTS OF VIOLENCE WERE WHITE, MALE ADULTS IN A NON-FAMILY RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN AGGRESSORS OVER THE 120 YEAR PERIOD. THE IMPLICIT MESSAGE COMMUNICATED DEFINES AND LABELS PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AS AN APPROPRIATE INSTRUMENTAL ACT AND LAYS OUT THE VOCABULARY OF MOTIVE AND THE SCRIPT FOR VIOLENCE IN A FORM WHICH CAN BE LEARNED BY THE NEXT GENERATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)