Samenvatting Youth Culture in a Digital World
Introduction into digital media in the lives of youth
Developmental approaches to understanding media effects on individuals - Gentile
and Sesma
This article focuses on developmental approaches to understanding the effects of media
violence on children. It debunks (ontkracht) common myths about these effects and
proposes two frameworks: the developmental tasks approach and the risk and resilience
approach.
Seven Myths about Media Effects
1. Media effects are simple and direct: In reality, media effects are usually slow and
subtle, even when intended to influence behavior. This subtlety makes them
surprisingly powerful.
2. Media violence has severe effects: While extreme cases happen, the main impact
is creating a "culture of disrespect," with interpersonal violence as an outcome.
Violent media affects emotions, body responses, thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
3. Media effects are obvious: Media effects are often indirect, gradual, and hard to
notice, even though they can be significant.
4. Media affects everyone the same way: People respond differently to media, with
four common effects: aggressor, victim, bystander, or appetite effects.
5. Causality means "necessary and sufficient": Aggressive behavior has many
causes, and media violence is one of several contributing factors.
6. Causality means immediacy: Like smoking and lung cancer, media violence can
have long-term effects that take years to appear.
7. Effects must be "big" to matter: Even small effects can have a big impact, as
media violence consistently explains 1-10% of violent behavior, which is significant
These persistent myths underscore the importance of thinking carefully about what the
effects of media violence on individuals may be.
- We must understand that everyone may be affected, yet not in the same way.
- We must recognize that most children may be affected, although we may only notice
the effects in extreme cases.
,Developmental Approaches
Help to understand the effects of media
violence on children:
Developmental Tasks Approach: This
approach recognizes that children face
different developmental tasks at different
ages, and the effects of media violence are
likely to vary depending on these tasks.
- The basic idea is that in order for a
person to adapt, there are
developmental challenges that must
be met. Some arise through
biological maturation, others are
imposed by families and society,
while others arise from the
developing self.
- Major developmental tasks by age
group illustrates this concept.
- Example from professional wrestling:
demonstrating how the same violent
content might affect children
differently at various ages.
Risk and Resilience Approach: This approach focuses on differential life experiences
among children that may put them at risk for future maladaptation (risk factors), and those
factors that serve to “protect” children from this risk exposure (protective factors). This
approach is likely to be useful to help explain why we may see greater effects of media
violence on some children than on others. Exposure to media violence is likely to be a “risk
factor” for all children. However, some children may have additional risk factors that enhance
the effects of media violence exposure, whereas other children may have protective factors
that attenuate the effects of exposure to media violence.
- Cumulative risk approach: the more risks encountered by a child, the greater the
likelihood of problematic functioning
Conclusion
Our view is that exposure to entertainment media violence is a risk factor for aggressive
behavior and other negative outcomes. The article emphasizes the importance of
understanding how media violence affects children developmentally. The developmental
tasks and risk and resilience approaches provide valuable frameworks for research and
interpretation. While media violence is not the sole cause of aggressive behavior, it is a
significant risk factor, particularly when combined with other risks.
, Digital youth: The role of media in development: Connecting Online Behavior to
Adolescent Development: A Theoretical Framework - Subrahmanyam and Smahel
Outline a developmental approach for understanding how young people use and are
affected by digital technology, building on established psychological models of adolescence.
Understanding Adolescent Development
John P. Hill's influential research agenda for adolescence, which emphasizes:
- Fundamental changes occurring during adolescence, including biological, cognitive,
and social changes. But also the individual's social status, in his or her rights,
responsibilities, and privileges.
- Contexts that shape adolescent development, such as peers, family, and schools.
- Psychosocial tasks adolescents face, such as developing sexuality, forming an
identity, and establishing intimate relationships.
A developmental task is a task that arises at or about a certain period in the life of the
individual, successful achievement of which leads to his happiness and to success with later
tasks, while failure leads to unhappiness in the individual, disapproval by the society, and
difficulty with later tasks
"Emerging adulthood," is a distinct developmental period between adolescence and full
adulthood, marked by exploration, self-focus, and a sense of possibility. However, the book's
primary focus remains on middle and high school students up to 18 years of age.
Three Key Developmental Challenges
- Developing sexuality: Adolescents go through many physical and emotional
changes as they explore their sexual identity and deal with new romantic and sexual
feelings.
- Forming an identity: Adolescents work on figuring out who they are by trying out
different roles, values, and beliefs to build a clear sense of self.
- Establishing intimacy: Adolescents learn to build close relationships with friends
and romantic partners based on trust, sharing, and emotional support.
Digital Media as a Developmental Context
Digital media serves as a crucial context for adolescent development. It provides
opportunities for young people to explore and experiment with these core challenges. Online
environments offer spaces to:
- Learn about sexuality and engage in romantic and sexual exploration.
- Experiment with different identities and express themselves creatively.
- Connect with peers and form intimate relationships.
The authors acknowledge that while digital media can facilitate healthy development, it also
presents potential risks, such as exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and online
addiction.
Introduction into digital media in the lives of youth
Developmental approaches to understanding media effects on individuals - Gentile
and Sesma
This article focuses on developmental approaches to understanding the effects of media
violence on children. It debunks (ontkracht) common myths about these effects and
proposes two frameworks: the developmental tasks approach and the risk and resilience
approach.
Seven Myths about Media Effects
1. Media effects are simple and direct: In reality, media effects are usually slow and
subtle, even when intended to influence behavior. This subtlety makes them
surprisingly powerful.
2. Media violence has severe effects: While extreme cases happen, the main impact
is creating a "culture of disrespect," with interpersonal violence as an outcome.
Violent media affects emotions, body responses, thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
3. Media effects are obvious: Media effects are often indirect, gradual, and hard to
notice, even though they can be significant.
4. Media affects everyone the same way: People respond differently to media, with
four common effects: aggressor, victim, bystander, or appetite effects.
5. Causality means "necessary and sufficient": Aggressive behavior has many
causes, and media violence is one of several contributing factors.
6. Causality means immediacy: Like smoking and lung cancer, media violence can
have long-term effects that take years to appear.
7. Effects must be "big" to matter: Even small effects can have a big impact, as
media violence consistently explains 1-10% of violent behavior, which is significant
These persistent myths underscore the importance of thinking carefully about what the
effects of media violence on individuals may be.
- We must understand that everyone may be affected, yet not in the same way.
- We must recognize that most children may be affected, although we may only notice
the effects in extreme cases.
,Developmental Approaches
Help to understand the effects of media
violence on children:
Developmental Tasks Approach: This
approach recognizes that children face
different developmental tasks at different
ages, and the effects of media violence are
likely to vary depending on these tasks.
- The basic idea is that in order for a
person to adapt, there are
developmental challenges that must
be met. Some arise through
biological maturation, others are
imposed by families and society,
while others arise from the
developing self.
- Major developmental tasks by age
group illustrates this concept.
- Example from professional wrestling:
demonstrating how the same violent
content might affect children
differently at various ages.
Risk and Resilience Approach: This approach focuses on differential life experiences
among children that may put them at risk for future maladaptation (risk factors), and those
factors that serve to “protect” children from this risk exposure (protective factors). This
approach is likely to be useful to help explain why we may see greater effects of media
violence on some children than on others. Exposure to media violence is likely to be a “risk
factor” for all children. However, some children may have additional risk factors that enhance
the effects of media violence exposure, whereas other children may have protective factors
that attenuate the effects of exposure to media violence.
- Cumulative risk approach: the more risks encountered by a child, the greater the
likelihood of problematic functioning
Conclusion
Our view is that exposure to entertainment media violence is a risk factor for aggressive
behavior and other negative outcomes. The article emphasizes the importance of
understanding how media violence affects children developmentally. The developmental
tasks and risk and resilience approaches provide valuable frameworks for research and
interpretation. While media violence is not the sole cause of aggressive behavior, it is a
significant risk factor, particularly when combined with other risks.
, Digital youth: The role of media in development: Connecting Online Behavior to
Adolescent Development: A Theoretical Framework - Subrahmanyam and Smahel
Outline a developmental approach for understanding how young people use and are
affected by digital technology, building on established psychological models of adolescence.
Understanding Adolescent Development
John P. Hill's influential research agenda for adolescence, which emphasizes:
- Fundamental changes occurring during adolescence, including biological, cognitive,
and social changes. But also the individual's social status, in his or her rights,
responsibilities, and privileges.
- Contexts that shape adolescent development, such as peers, family, and schools.
- Psychosocial tasks adolescents face, such as developing sexuality, forming an
identity, and establishing intimate relationships.
A developmental task is a task that arises at or about a certain period in the life of the
individual, successful achievement of which leads to his happiness and to success with later
tasks, while failure leads to unhappiness in the individual, disapproval by the society, and
difficulty with later tasks
"Emerging adulthood," is a distinct developmental period between adolescence and full
adulthood, marked by exploration, self-focus, and a sense of possibility. However, the book's
primary focus remains on middle and high school students up to 18 years of age.
Three Key Developmental Challenges
- Developing sexuality: Adolescents go through many physical and emotional
changes as they explore their sexual identity and deal with new romantic and sexual
feelings.
- Forming an identity: Adolescents work on figuring out who they are by trying out
different roles, values, and beliefs to build a clear sense of self.
- Establishing intimacy: Adolescents learn to build close relationships with friends
and romantic partners based on trust, sharing, and emotional support.
Digital Media as a Developmental Context
Digital media serves as a crucial context for adolescent development. It provides
opportunities for young people to explore and experiment with these core challenges. Online
environments offer spaces to:
- Learn about sexuality and engage in romantic and sexual exploration.
- Experiment with different identities and express themselves creatively.
- Connect with peers and form intimate relationships.
The authors acknowledge that while digital media can facilitate healthy development, it also
presents potential risks, such as exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and online
addiction.
