NCJ Number
96974
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (September 1984) Pages: 47-65
Date Published
1984
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Youths' involvement in video arcades is generally unrelated to delinquent or conforming behavior, although for a minority of children, this involvement is associated with deviant behavior.
Abstract
Study data came from 258 children in grades 6, 7, and 8 in 2 schools near Toronto, Ontario (Canada). Data were collected via questionnaires, interviews, and participant observation in over 40 video arcades. Deviant activities on which data were gathered through the self-reports were stealing, vandalism, aggression, truancy, smoking, and drinking. Video arcades instigated or facilitated deviant behavior for relatively few children. Compared with the majority of children visiting video arcades, these children were far more likely to be found in them after 10 p.m. Delinquent children also reported experiencing relatively weak parental social control and reported engaging in deviant acts more often than most of the other subjects. Most of the children visiting arcades were similar in conformist activities to those who did not frequent arcades. The children who visited arcades also spent relatively little time and money in them. Parents need greater awareness of the importance of family social control and its relation to deviance associated with late-night visits to arcades. Arcade operators should not allow youths under age 16 on their premises after 10 p.m. They should also try to attract a mixed population to their arcades by offering diversified entertainment. Data tables, notes, and a list of 23 references are supplied.