07/28/10

Recreational Violence

Emily HuffUniversity of Northern IowaSocial Problems

Recreational Violence“We don’t have a great war in our generation, or a great depression, but we do, we have a great war

of the spirit” – Fight Club

Definition: Violent activity with clearly defined, self articulated rules, willing participants, a sense of pleasure in the activity and an absence of any malicious intent.

Participants• Two individuals engaging in fighting

– Performing for an audience of peers– Monitored by an audience of peers

• Suburban high school males– Spanning socioeconomic status

• Middle class and upper-middle class more likely to participate

• Solid educational backgrounds• Solid moral values

Consequences

Physical Legal

• Schools and Parents held responsible for events on their property– Blue Springs, Missouri

• Assault, trespassing, disturbing the peace, loitering, etc.

Cultural Consequences

• Immortality through Imaginary Audience– Videos make heroes out of fighters– Sense of fame and popularity through

violence

• Detachment from Violence– Increase in non-recreational violent behavior

Community Application

• Discipline Referrals

• Case of Greer*– Struggled academically– Fame and validation in fighting– Displaced educational goals– Physical damage– Future

Societal Causes“The fight club offers the chance to bring […] fantasies of violence and

danger to life . . .”

Young Dogs & Boys

• Fascination with violence and blood

• Fighting is energetic “play”

• Primal and primitive

• Aggression and violence contribute to the formation of a masculine identity– Teens in a period of identity formation and

exploration

Moral Justification

• Aware that violence is not socially

acceptable

• Recreational violence = (violence –

malicious intent)

• Detached from the concept of violence

It’s a Sport

• Violence, aggression and body as a weapon are commended

• Violence in Sports vs. Violence for Sport– Rules– Age/Restrictions– Supervision– Education

See it & Believe It

• Pain is entertaining– Detachment from reality– “Tom and Jerry pain”

• Internet video phenomenon– Instant gratification

• Zero to Hero

– Chance at immortality & fame

Structural Solutions

Awareness

• Break the first rule of Fight Club*• Violence is inherently wrong, fights

secretive• Public awareness and attention

– Research, law enforcement

• Education of dangers– NFL head injury information

Video Sharing

•Number of violent teen videos shared on YouTube has increased in 2 years•13 hours of content every minute•Viewers flag inappropriate and violent content

Individual Solutions

Communication

• Open dialogue about violence

• Awareness of teen activities– Proud Parent example

• Education on dangers

• Monitor violent media (computer)– Not to censor, but to open dialogue

Other Avenues

• Other ways to gain a masculine identity• Sports

• Football• Wrestling

• Education• Community Involvement

Conclusion

• Well educated, “good” kids• Compartmentalized, detached from

realities of violence– Self assess recreational fighting to be

acceptable and not culturally malignant

• Bring awareness to the problem through positive encouragement and education