NCJ Number
46441
Date Published
1976
Length
24 pages
Annotation
DATA DERIVED IN A NATIONAL SURVEY OF TEENAGE BEHAVIOR AT SHOPPING CENTERS REVEAL THAT TEENAGERS ARE NOT A MAJOR SOURCE OF TROUBLE AND THAT MOST SHOPPING CENTER MANAGERS AND ADULT SHOPPERS RATE THEIR BEHAVIOR AS POSITIVE.
Abstract
A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 107 TEENAGERS QUESTIONED IN PERSON IN THE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AREA REVEALED THAT THEY VISIT SHOPPING CENTERS PRIMARILY TO SHOP/ SOCIALIZE, AND IN GENERAL ADHERE TO THE SAME BEHAVIORAL VALUES (POLITENESS, CONSIDERATION, CLEANLINESS, ETC.) HELD BY MANAGERS AND BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN AN ANCILLARY MAIL SURVEY BY QUESTIONNAIRE OF 400 SHOPPING CENTER MANAGERS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA, 52 PERCENT OF THE 188 RESPONDENTS REACTED FAVORABLY TO TEENAGE BEHAVIOR. EVEN THOSE WHO WERE LESS POSITIVE FOUND IT IRRITATING AND ANNOYING, BUT RARELY DESTRUCTIVE AND CRIMINAL. ONLY ABOUT 4 PERCENT STATED THAT THEY HAD SERIOUS SECURITY PROBLEMS -- PARTICULARLY SHOPLIFTING AND PUBLIC DISTURBANCES; DRUG USE WAS RANKED VERY LOW EVEN IN THESE CENTERS. STATISTICAL DATA ARE PRESENTED ON THE NUMBER OF STORES AND THE SIZE OF CENTERS, ENCLOSED VERSUS OPEN CENTERS, URBAN/SUBURBAN COMPARISONS, AND SHOPLIFTING BY GEOGRAPHIC SECTION AND LOCALE. DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO DEALING WITH TEENAGE SECURITY PROBLEMS AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR ARE BRIEFLY EXAMINED, AS ARE SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED FOR ADOLESCENTS. CAUSES FOR PROBLEMS AT THE NINE CENTERS WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED. GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT ARE PROVIDED, MAKING THE DATA USEFUL FOR MANAGERS IN DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND IN ESTABLISHING A RATIONALE AND METHODOLOGY FOR POLICIES TO DEAL WITH TEENAGERS. SURVEY FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM, AND SURVEY INSTRUMENTS ARE REPRODUCED. (DJM)