Abstract This paper takes a look at self-injurious behaviors without suicidal intent among adolescents and college students. The author provides statistics that show the incidence and prevalence of self-injury but cautions that the surveys and studies that have been done are usually of relatively small sample sizes. The paper discusses several risk factors that might contribute to self-injuring behavior in young adults, such as childhood trauma or disrupted emotional development due to an invalidating environment. The paper also speculates that the increased media attention to this problem, though creating awareness, might also be glamorizing self-injurious behaviors by the "goth" and "emo" teen and young adult subcultures.
From the Paper "Non-suicidal self-injury is the intentional act of causing physical harm to the self, committed without suicidal intent. Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) can range from the most common methods of self-mutilation, such as cutting and burning the skin, to pulling hair or pinching/slapping. For the purposes of the examination herein, socially acceptable forms of mutilation such as cosmetic piercing and tattoos are not included in the scope of self-injurious behaviors. The incidence of socially deviant self-harm among adolescents and young adults, particularly those in a college population, has been on the increase. In addition, awareness of self-harming behaviors has become a focus in the media. This new level of attention has had two distinct and contradictory effects: one is an increased effort to understand and help those suffering with the condition; the other, a glamorization of self-injurious behaviors by the "goth" and "emo" teen and young adult subcultures."
Abstract This paper describes three basic angles of the media's impact on adolescent self-perception. The paper illustrates the media's most positive portrayal of teenagers and its more customary negative angle. It provides real world examples of the state of adolescence in America. The paper explores how and why corporate America and the media affect the nation's children.
Table of Contents
I. Fear is in the TV: Media images of an adolescent world
II. Truth is in the Streets: The rest of the story
III. Autopsy Reports in the Profit Margins: What does Corporate America have to gain?
a. Media Stock in Violence
b. Drug Companies and the New Marketplace
c. Get Tough on Crime (it's easy on the approval ratings)
d. Selling Popularity
IV. I Don?t Want to Be Part of Your World: Self-definition and other underage options
a. Media Complications and Youth Reactions
b. Self-Definition and Viable Options
V. Summary
VI. Sources Used
From the Paper "I began work on this paper with every intention of sticking to traditional subjects. I planned to discuss media portrayal of women and beauty, the formation of high school "cool" through marketing and media pressure, and the legalities of advertising to teenagers. Along the way I expected to discuss such random issues as cartoon characters and smoking campaigns. However, once I actually started my research, an entirely different topic kept popping up over and over again: the negative media portrayal of teenagers and the wholesale selling of violence and mind-altering drugs.
"Multiple school shootings have passed in recent memory. Daily news reports continue to be filled with stories of adolescent murderers and children in adult prisons. The question then presented itself to my mind, how does all this negative media coverage affect the way teens view themselves, and the way in which they interact with the world? Are teens today really more violent, and if so, is that the fault of the entertainment media or some other cause? What is it like to be part of a subculture that takes the brunt of these media scandals? Is it all hype, and does the hype worsen the problem?
Increasingly my other research seemed to pale in comparison to these questions. One day when I was at the library, a boy walked by wearing a Marilyn Manson T-shirt that piqued my interest and made up my mind as to how I should approach this paper. It read: "Is adult entertainment killing our children, or is killing children entertaining our adults?" I set myself the task of answering that question, and further exploring how media messages on violence and group conformity might change the self-perception and self-identification of adolescents, with a focus on the events at Columbine.
There are three basic angles that I felt needed to be explored. First, I attempted to explain the media's most positive portrayal of teenagers and its more customary, negative angle. Then I contrasted these stereotypes with a few real-world truths about the state of adolescence in America. Finally, I tried to explore how and just as importantly, why, corporate America and the general media have affected our children."
Abstract This paper takes a look at how the media influences the way adolescents view the ideal body image. The author examines the type of stereotypes that the media encourages and the way that this effects society.
From the Paper "Adolescence is a time for learning and growth. This time can be easier to handle by some than others. For some it can be a revelation of new experiences and ideas, while adolescence can also be a difficult, stressful time for those trying to discover themselves. This can affect themselves as well as those around them. During this time, adolescents are likely to identify with those around them, their peers. Identifying with peers can help adolescents along by giving them the opportunity to see how others deal with problems similar to their own and by offering their own advice to those who need it. Along with this, adolescents are liable to worry about their body image, and may want to conform to those who have achieved the "desired" image. This image may be thin, muscular, or just average. Nevertheless, some adolescents will go too far to achieve this image, usually this is done by adolescent females who wish to become thin. This can be attributed to media's portrayal of women. The majority of women in ads, television and movies are thin and are seen as attractive because of this. Adolescent girls will see these women and may want their image as their own, and some will go to any lengths to acquire this. This in turn could lead to the idea that during this process of change and growing up, adolescents are often concerned about their physical image, which is influenced by the media."
Abstract This paper researches and examines the nature of the adolescentstudent categorized as an ESE (exceptional student education) student due to some disability, impairment or other attributing factor. The paper explores what the teacher may do to enhance the educational and learning experience of the exceptional adolescentstudent. The challenges facing the teachers and ESE students are discussed in the paper.
From the Paper "The developmental stage referred to as adolescence is a period in the life of the student that is emotionally charged and somewhat erratically so due to the biological hormonal changes taking place in the chemistry of the adolescent student. The adolescent tends to tenderly wear their heart upon their sleeve. The adolescent feels everything in magnification and is at this time of their life, human organism that develops large and sensitive "feelers" that await the first inclination of disapproval from other adolescents as well as adults in their environment. Hurt feelings can seem the end of the world to the overly sensitive and emotional adolescent. How much more so is the sensitivity of the "exceptional adolescent". The professional teacher realizes this and will educate, train and personally prepare themselves for the correct response to the issues that are guaranteed to arise when educating the adolescent student."
A look at the fact that adolescents are faced with more sophisticated risks today than they were at the beginning of the century due to the breakdown of the family, the media, the repercussions of the Civil and Women's Rights Movements, etc.
2,374 words (approx. 9.5 pages), 6 sources, 2000, $ 72.95
Abstract This explores the subject of adolescence: how juveniles today differ from youths from the past in dealing with issues such as sex, schooling, and the effects of media.
Abstract This paper examines how violence in the media has become a commonplace affair and discusses whether television violence results in more aggressive or deviant behavior and whether it is likely to lead to criminal behavior. Through a literature review, the paper looks at how studies have proved that media violence can lead to criminal behavior and how many sociologists have concluded that violence in television media impacts viewers in a negative manner. It also shows how television violence impacts youths and adolescents much more frequently than it impacts adults.
From the Paper "The effects of "media" on human behavior have been closely examined for centuries. Even the earliest of philosophers such as Freud hypothesized that human behavior is a product of external influences. Approximately 50 years ago, before television became a mainstay in modern households, a researcher by the name of Hovland analyzed the potential implications of the science of communications, foreseeing much change in communications of the future. He stated "how can stimuli"bring about various desired changes in response?? (Vos Post, 1995). He noted that analysis would be required of the stimuli transmitted by the communicator, in this case the television (Vos Post, 1995)."
A discussion regarding the cultural diversity prevalent in our schools today, and the inability of the current school system to deal with the issues of a multicultural student body.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, 2005, $ 35.95
Abstract This paper discusses the adolescent in a multicultural and ethnic school system. According to this paper, American schools are increasing in cultural diversity, but remain based on standard majority student norms. This paper reports that teachers and educators employed by this school system, are ill equipped to deal with the growing present needs of the culturally diverse student body.
From the Paper "There are an increasing number of children from diverse backgrounds entering the US school system. Projects for the future (Hodjkinson, 1985; Sue, 1992 as cited in Holcomb-McCoy, 2004) indicate that "the majority of children attending public school in the year 2020 will be children-of-color or children from diverse cultural, ethnic and/or linguistic backgrounds." Many school professionals, especially counselors, are unequipped to deal with the problems facing the students, teachers and parents in their role as counselor and consultant. This is such a growing concern that the American School Counselor Association adopted a position statement urging school counselors to take action in order to assure that all students, those from traditional as well as culturally diverse backgrounds have access to appropriate services and opportunities."
Abstract This study uses content analysis to examine adolescent television drama program behavior as compared to actual adolescent behavioral statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics. Issues of sexual behavior, alcohol usage and drug usage were analyzed. This work contributes to cultivation theory; the culmination of similar messages on fictional adolescent television drama programs re-enforces impressions that are not based on reality.
From the Paper "Media can be described in many ways and forms. It is the dissemination of news, events, and information as well as a portrayal of America. It contains movies, sitcoms, dramas, comedies, news, and world events that all shape our reality of what the world is. Television more specifically is so popular because its function is to be a mirrored image of what America is, its beliefs, and ideas. Because it performs this function, it is considered entertainment. This industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that centers around two words: money and people. It does not necessarily have to be accurate for people to believe it. People will believe what they find to be interesting whether it is true or not, based upon no actual proof. This is why the media can get away with straying from the truth, because people do not care whether what they absorb is true. Truth is a very powerful concept that most people take too lightly. Most people will not admit that what they watch on television, hear on the radio, or read in the newspaper affects them. However, it has been proven through the cultivation theory that this effect is present, it does occur, and it subsequently affects the way a country perceives itself. This is how the media ultimately controls the power of thought."
Tags: cultivation, influence, media, research, study, teenager, theory
Abstract This paper examines how the media has played a significant role in the spread of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa among adolescent females, by conditioning them to believe that ultra-thin is beauty. It also looks at how the measurement of success and psychological factors also play a role in the development of this deadly disease.
From the Paper "While one cannot claim that media deliberately target adolescent females with their images of ultra thin models, imposing upon them standards of beauty and ideal body standards that they must achieve, research does show that they target women in general with that message. As stated in a National Eating Disorder Association article, "media messages screaming thin is in may not directly cause eating disorders, but they help to create the context within which people learn to place a value on the size and shape of their body" ("The Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders"). The frequency with which women receive the "thin is in" message is a leading cause of the development of anorexia."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the factors that influence adolescent perception. The writer looks at the main influences upon adolescent perception. The writer continues that these perceptions include parents, siblings, peers and the mass media. The writer examines how adolescents can bring their perceptual distortions closer to reality.
From the Paper "Because adolescence is a time of rapid growth and change in the human developmental process, at this time in their lives adolescents are particularly susceptible to outside influences upon their behavior and perceptions of their lives. The main influences upon the perceptions of adolescents are generally considered to be their parents, siblings, peer groups and mass media. Here, we will not only examine how these particular influences can alter the perceptions and behaviors of adolescents, but also examine how adolescents can bring their perceptual distortions closer to ... "
Abstract This paper discusses contemporary adolescent stereotypes. It focuses on gender roles, gender identification and the association with stereotypes about weight and attractiveness. This paper refers to a study comparing US to European values among adolescents, and a study examining the effects of MTV videos on adolescents and their stereotypical belief systems.
From the Paper "In their attempts to push their belief in their own maturation and distinguish themselves from being a child, adolescents are caught in often not knowing what to do, who to trust, what to believe and/or how to act. As a result, many adopt stereotypical behaviors based on views they have heard expressed by other adults or may have seen or heard on TV. In this brief literature review, research is cited to link sex roles and gender stereotypes with stereotypical attitudes and beliefs about weight and body image."
Abstract This well-researched paper examines the views and opinions of cultivation theorists who maintain that the media, both electronic and print, tends to clouds one's judgment of reality. The writer of this paper focuses on the contribution of the media to the culture of thinness and perfection and the increasing cases of eating disorders in young women. This paper examines the published research, which indicates that female adolescents are increasingly being subjected to unhealthy body images in print and electronic media. This paper explores the research which proves that internalization of media-promoted images may have an even more pronounced impact on body image. This paper discusses the fact the eating disorders are more prevalent in girls than in boys. The writer contends and explains why young people who are more aware of existing socio-cultural pressures are less affected by media exposure than others.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Research has consistently demonstrated that media images especially TV commercials and magazines play a dominant role in distortion of body image leading to increased cases of eating disorders among women. Kalodner concluded that images of thin models in media generated feelings of anxiety, stress, and dissatisfaction among women but not in men. But different results might be obtained if men were shown images of muscular models instead of thin females since culture of thinness affects women more. Body mass index (BMI) was used in many researches to demonstrate that even those women whose BMI indicate good height-weight proportion also suffered from body image disturbance and developed eating disorder."
Abstract Teenage girls are exposed to images from the media constantly, at all times providing them with a depiction of what the media perceives, or wishes to project, is the standard of beauty. To completely understand how the media affects the self image of girls in America, an exploration as to how it affects them mentally, socially, and physically is undertaken in this paper alongside a review of available academic articles and data on the subject, with recommendations on how to alleviate these negative effects to complete the research.
Outline:
Abstract
An Introduction to the Media and Girls
The Emotional Implications of the Media Upon Girls
How the Media Grooms the Social Landscape
The Effects Upon Physical Perception of Self
Deciphering the Messages
Concluding Observation
From the Paper "Throughout the adolescent development of girls both self-focus and awareness of others' evaluations of self are heightened. Due to their concern with not only the internal perception, but also that of the external, additional pressure is created for the teenager, further compounding the problem of self image. It is a fact that body image has a major influence on adolescents' self-esteem, backed by the fact that both female and male adolescents place more importance on their appearance than adults, and also report higher levels of body dissatisfaction. (Dittmar et. al.) Image is a very important aspect of life in that it is the part of an individual which is exposed to the public with this aspect of life being particularly important to teenagers, and the reality is that the media does not help in the development of these adolescents, in regards to both their body image, and their expectations as to what they and others should aspire to look like. "
