Violence rooted in culture

Most baby boomers grew up with three or four television stations available to them. Depicted acts of graphic violence were rare. Decency standards dictated that even married couples could not be shown sharing a bed. Most musical lyrics were fairly tame.

Today's youth grow up with an overload of media images, some of which are troubling. The average juvenile receives more than 1,600 images a day, many of them pornographic. A good deal of popular music glamorizes sex, drug use and violence. Experts say this exposure tends to desensitize juveniles and can even contribute to gang violence. Parents need to be aware of the connection between violence, drug messages and sex and the popular media their children consume. They need to set limits and give their children the skills to make good choices about their media consumption.

Likely, most youth will gravitate toward positive life choices. But for youth who may be struggling with untreated mental health issues, drug or alcohol abuse, and who are poorly adjusted, these messages can be especially problematic.

Utah police officers who spoke at the 17th annual Utah Gang Conference this past week noted one group of concern called Juggalos, fans of the rap group Insane Clown Posse or ICP. The Juggalos are considered extremely violent and aggressive. ICP has some 3,000-4,000 followers in Utah, the majority of whom are fans of the group's music . Some adhere to the lifestyle espoused in that music, which includes sex, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. But about 15 percent are involved in criminal gang activity, including crimes such as stabbings, weapons possession and threatening harm. A Juggalo group from Jefferson Junior High School was arrested for committing burglaries in the school.

There is a growing body of social science research that ties viewing violence of all kinds to the commission of these acts. When young people receive far fewer uplifting or appropriate messages to counteract pornographic or violent images, they may behave inappropriately.

As children age and become far more media savvy than their parents, it becomes increasingly difficult to police their popular media choices. But that does not absolve parents from discussing these issues with their children and discussing the family's expectations. Parents can't put the media genie back in the bottle. But they do have an obligation to teach their children to cull their many choices carefully.