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Communication And Cultivation Theory

Violent Behavior Exhibited by Juveniles is Influenced by Parental Neglect and Changing Social Conditions

Young people today live in a fast paced world. They are bombarded with violence in the media, lack of parental supervision in the home, and social influences that have created an atmosphere of acting out in the communities where they reside. Violent behavior exhibited by juveniles has become more pronounced, partly due to parental neglect and changing social conditions. Understanding how this environment has developed may help provide solutions to this growing problem which affects all of us.

When our parents were growing up in the 1960's and 70's, it was more common for mothers to stay home to raise their children. In 1975 only 46% of US women were in the workforce. (Simpson) They were available to monitor their children's activities and to keep abreast of the outside influences that were interacting with their lives. Today 60% of mothers are employed outside the home. Not only are there more dual parents in the workforce, but they are spending 66 hours on average, on the job and away from their families. (Toosi) Therefore, young people today have more free and unsupervised time to become involved in activities that may not be productive. Another aspect of family
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life that affects our youth is the prominence of single parents. Whether they are mothers or fathers, they are working hard to provide for their families. Some parents do not have the time or the energy to devote to teaching and training their children about the consequences of their actions until it is too late. If parents have failed to form strong attachments to their children by providing positive consistent discipline methods, open communication, and close monitoring and supervision of their activities, the family unit breaks down. (Alvarado) When parents are too focused on their own needs, juveniles will look to their peers...