TELEVISION AND DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 18635
• Author(s): J D HALLORAN; R L BROWN; D C CHANEY
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 221 pages
• Sale Source: Humanities Press; Leicester University Press
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A REVIEW OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MASS COMMUNICATIONS AND DELINQUENCY, AND A REPORT ON A STUDY OF TELEVISION VIEWING HABITS OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF DELINQUENT YOUTH.

Abstract

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE MEDIA AND DELINQUENCY IS FIRST PROVIDED IN ORDER TO SET THE RESEARCH PRESENTED HERE IN THE APPROPRIATE CONTEXT. AFTER EXAMINING THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF SOCIAL CONCERN ABOUT VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA, RESEARCH INTO THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY IS REVIEWED. A REVIEW OF MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH IS THEN PROVIDED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION GIVEN TO RESEARCH WHICH HAS ADDRESSED ITSELF DIRECTLY TO THE MEDIA - DELINQUENCY QUESTION. THE SECOND PART OF THIS WORK CONSISTS OF A REPORT ON AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE TELEVISION VIEWING HABITS OF ADOLESCENTS PLACED ON PROBATION BY THE COURTS. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT THE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS STUDIED DID DIFFER FROM THE MATCHED CONTROL SAMPLE IN THEIR PATTERN OF TELEVISION VIEWING BEHAVIOR, BUT THAT MOST OF THESE DIFFERENCES HAD TO DO WITH THE USES TO WHICH TELEVISION VIEWING WAS PUT RATHER THAN THE GROSS AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE. ADDITIONAL STUDY RESULTS AND LEADS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH WHICH HAVE EMERGED FROM THIS WORK ARE ALSO DISCUSSED.