Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adolescents' use of socially disvalued media: Towards a theory of media delinquency

  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article essentially addresses one specific question: Why do some adolescents actively and sometimes flauntingly use socially disvalued media contents? Using the empirical examples of use of heavy metal rock and video violence, particular emphasis is first placed on the role of the school as a generating context for both delinquency and (popular) cultural dispositions. Second, by combining these parallel fields of inquiry, a theory of “media delinquency” is proposed that places the use of socially disvalued media within a wider theoretical context of adolescent development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnett, J. (1991). Adolescents and heavy metal music.Youth Society 23: 76–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. (1992). The soundtrack of recklessness: Musical preferences and reckless behaviour among adolescents.J. Adoles. Res. 7: 313–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, P. (1984).Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, P., and Passeron, J. C. (1977).Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture. Sage, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, P., and Passeron, J. C. (1979).The Inheritors: French Students and Their Relation To Culture. Chicago University Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowles, S., and Gintis, H. (1977).Schooling In Capitalist America. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brack, C. J., Brack, G., and Orr, D. P. (1994). Dimensions underlying problem behaviours, emotions, and related psychosocial factors in early and middle adolescents.J. Early Adolesc. 14: 345–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brake, M. (1977).Hippies and Skinheads-Sociological Aspects of Youth Cultures. Ph.D. Thesis, London School of Economics.

  • Brown, J. D., Klein, J. D., and Childers, K. W. (1990a).Risky behaviour and media use among adolescents. Paper presented to the International Communications Association Conference, Dublin.

  • Brown, J. D., Childers, K. W., Bauman, K. E., and Koch, G. G. (1990b). The influence of new media and family structure on young adolescents television and Radio Use.Commun. Res. 17: 65–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. L., and O'Leary, M. (1971). Pop music in a English secondary school. In Kline, F. G., and Clarke, P. (eds.)Mass Communication and Youth. Sage, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christenson, P. G., and Peterson, J. B. (1988). Genre and gender in the structure of music preferences.Commun Res. 15: 282–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, P. (1973). Teenagers co-orientation and information seeking about popular music.Am. Behav. Scient. 16: 551–566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, (1961).The Adolescent Society. Free Press, Glecoe, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, R. (1979).The Credential Society. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, B. L. (1991).Popular Music Perspectives: Ideas, Themes, and Patterns In Contemporary Lyrics. Popular Press, Bowling Green, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dembo, R. (1972). Life-style and media use among English working class youth.Gazette 18: 24–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiMaggio, P. (1982). Cultural capital and school success.Am. Sociol. Rev. 47: 189–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, D. S. (1966). Delinquency, school attendance and drop-out.Social Probl. 13: 307–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, D. S., and Voss, H. L. (1974).Delinquency and Drop-out. Lexington Books, Lexington, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel, U., Nordlohne, E., Hurrelmann, K., and Holler, B. (1987). Educational career and substance use in adolescence.Eur. J. Psychol. Educa. II: 4. 365–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, G., Grobe, R. P., Sheehan, D., and Shuan, Y. (1990). Cultural resources and school success: Gender, ethnicity, and poverty groups within an urban school district.Am. Sociol. Rev. 55: 127–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fink, E., Robinson, J., and Dowden, S. (1985). The structure of music preference and attendance.Commun. Res. 12: 301–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, W., and Wince, M. (1975). Musical taste cultures and taste publics.Youth Society 15: 13–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friesen, B. K. (1990). Powerlessness in adolescence: Exploiting heavy metal listeners. In Sanders, C. R. (ed.),Marginal Conventions: Popular Culture, Mass Media and Social Deviance Popular Press, Bowling Green, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giroux, H. A. (1981).Ideology, Culture and The Process of Schooling. Temple University Press, Philadelphia, PA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanggler, S. W. (1989).Delinquency in Adolescence. Sage, Newbury Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hargreaves, D. H. (1967).Social Relations in a Secondary School Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healey, W. (1915).The Individual Delinquent. Brown, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurrelmann, K. (1987)Social Structure and Personality Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., and Jessor, S. L. (1977).Problem Behvaiour and Psycho-social Development. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsillis, J., and Rubinson, R. (1990). Cultural capital, student achievement, and educational reproduction: The case of Greece.Am. Sociol. Rev. 55: 270–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, E., Blumler, J. G., and Gurevitch, M. (1974). Utilization of mass communication by the individual. In Blumler, J. G., and Katz, E. (eds.)The Use of Mass Communications. Sage, Newbury Park.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, D. H. (1971). School failure, academic self-evaluation and school avoidance and deviance behaviour.Youth Society 489–503.

  • Larson, R., and Asmussen, L. (1991). Anger, worry and hurt in early adolescence: An enlarging world of negative emotions. In Colten, M. E., and Gore, S. (eds.)Adolescent Stress: Causes and Consequences. De Gruyter, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, R. (1985). School performance, containment theory and delinquent behaviour.Youth Society 17: 69–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, G. H. (1987). Patterns of meaning and choice: Taste cultures in popular music. In Lull, J. (ed.)Popular Music and Communication. Sage, Newbury Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martens, P. L. (1982).Achievement-Related Behaviour of Early Adolescents. University of Stockholm, Project Metropolitan.

  • McLeod, J., Ward, S., and Tacil, K. (1966). Alienation and the uses of the mass media.Public Opin. Quart. 29: 583–594.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercer, M. (1930). School maladjustment as a factor in juvenile delinquency.J. Juvenile Res. 14: 41–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. W. (1977). The effects of education as an institution.Am. J. Sociol. 83: 55–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdock, G., and Phelps G. (1973).Mass Media and The Secondary School. Macmillan, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyserman, D., and Markus, H. R. (1990). Possible selves and delinquency.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 59: 112–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, J., and Kelly, D. (1979). School failure and delinquency: Which causes which?Criminol. 17: 148–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polk, K., and Schafer, W. E. (1972).Schools and Delinquency. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Power, C. (1986). The Purdah Experience. In Fensham, P., Power, C., Tripp, D., and Kemmis, S. (Eds.),Alienation From Schooling. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, A., and Reiss, A. (1969). Apathy, truancy and delinquency as adaptations to school failure.Social Forces 48: 12–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. P., and Fink, E. L. (1986). Beyond mass culture and class culture: Subcultural differences in the structure of music preferences. In Ball-Rokeach, S. J., and Cantor, M. G. (eds.),Media, Audiences and Social Structure. Sage, Newbury Park.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1983a).Mass Media and Adolescent Schooling: Conflict or Co-Existence? Almqvist and Wiksell International, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1983b). The influence of video technology in adolescence. Media Panel Report No. 27.

  • Roe, K. (1984). Svenska ungdomar och deras relation till video. In Noras, T. (ed.),Barn og Billedmedier. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1985). Swedish youth and music: Listening patterns and motivations.Commun. Res. 12: 353–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1987a). The school and music in adolescent socialization. In Lull, J. (ed.),Popular Music and Communication. Sage, Newbury Park.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1987b). Adolescents video use: A structural-cultural approach.Am. Behav. Scient. 30: 522–532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1987c). Schooling ourselves to heavy metal. In Stafseng, O., and Frones, I. (eds.),Ungdom mot ar 2000. Gyldendal, Oslo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1989a). School achievement, self-esteem and adolescents' video use. In Levy, M. R. (ed.),The VCR Age: Home Video and Mass Communication. Sage, Newbury Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1989b). Utgallring och intrade: Om sambandet mellan skolans och mediernas rum. In Fornas, J., and Foreman, M. (eds.),Rum och rorelser: Om ungas inre och yttre livsrum. Byggforskningsradet Stockholm.

  • Roe, K. (1990). Adolescents' music use: A structural-cultural approach. In Roe, K., and Carlsson, U. (eds.),Popular Music Research. NORDICOM, Gothenburg, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1992). Different destinies: Different melodies: school achievement, anticipated status and adolescents' tastes in music.Eur. J. Commun. 7: 335–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1993a). Academic capital and music tastes among Swedish adolescents.Young 1: 40–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1993b). Videovaldets forsta fans. In von Feilitzen, C., Forsman, M., and Roe, K. (eds.),Vald fran alla hall. Symposion, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K. (1994). Media use and social mobility. In Rosengren, K. R. (ed.),Media Effects and Beyond: Culture, Socialization and Lifestyles. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, K., and Lofgren, M. (1988). Music video use and educational achievement.Pop. Music 7: 303–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosengren, K. E., and Windahl, S. (1989).Media Matter: TV Use In Childhood and Adolescence. Ablex, Norwood, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, J. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement.Psychol. Monogr. 80: 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Maughan, B., and Ouston, J. (1979).Fifteen Thousand Hours. Open University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, C. R. (1990). A lot of people like it: The relationship between deviance and popular culture. In Sanders, C. R. (ed.),Marginal Conventions: Popular Culture, Mass Media and Social Deviance. Popular Press, Bowling Green, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneller, R. (1988). Video watching and its societal functions for small-town adolescents in Israel.Youth Society 19: 441–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schostak, J. (1986).Schooling The Violent Imagination. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorokin, P. A. (1947).Society, Culture and Personality: Their Structure and Dynamics. Harper, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stinchcombe, A. L. (1964).Rebellion in a High School. Quadrangle, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugarman, B. (1967). Involvement in youth culture, academic achievement and conformity in school.Br. J. Sociol. 18: 151–164.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trondman, M. (1990). Rock taste-On rock as symbolic Capital. In Roe, K., and Carlsson, U. (eds.),Popular Music Research. NORDICOM, Gothenburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Feilitzen, C., and Roe, K. (1992). Eavesdropping on adolescence: An Exploratory Study of music listening among children.Communications 17: 225–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, J. C. (1988).Louts and Legends: Male Youth Culture in An Inner City School. Allen and Unwin, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, P. (1977).Learning to Labour. Saxon House, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, P. (1978).Profane Culture. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, P. (1984). Elements of a culture. In Hammersley, M., and Woods, P., (eds.),The Sociology of Pupil Culture. Open University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilmott, P. (1969).Adolescent Boys In East London. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Science, The Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

    Keith Roe (Professor of Communication)

Authors
  1. Keith Roe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Received his Ph.D in The Sociology of Communication from the University of Lund, Sweden in 1983. His main research interests include adolescents and the media, literacy, school achievement and the media, and research methodology.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roe, K. Adolescents' use of socially disvalued media: Towards a theory of media delinquency. J Youth Adolescence 24, 617–631 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537059

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537059

Keywords

Search

Navigation