| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Michael Gray" |
| Date: |
14 Apr 2006 11:17:12 PM |
| Object: |
News: Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children |
Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children
00:01 14 April 2006
NewScientist.com news service
Gaia Vince
About half of teenage goths have deliberately harmed themselves or
attempted suicide, a new study suggests. But joining the modern
subculture – which grew out of the 1980s gothic rock scene – may
actually protect vulnerable children, researchers say.
The study followed 1258 young people who were interviewed at ages 11,
13, 15 and 19. It found that of those who considered themselves goths,
53% had self-harmed and 47% had tried to commit suicide. The average
prevalence of self-harm among young people in the UK is 7% to 14%.
Self-harm includes behaviours such as cutting or burning oneself. And
about 6% of young people admit suicide attempts. Some studies suggest
the incidence is rising in society.
Researchers at University of Glasgow found that while most
self-harmers started the practice at age 12 to 13, they did not become
goths until they were a couple of years older, on average.
“One common suggestion is they may be copying subcultural icons or
peers [when they self-harm], but our study found that more young
people reported self-harm before, rather than after, becoming a goth.
This suggests that young people with a tendency to self-harm are
attracted to the goth subculture,” says Robert Young, who led the
study.
Quick fix
“Rather than posing a risk, it's also possible that by belonging to
the goth subculture, young people are gaining valuable social and
emotional support from their peers.” But he cautions: “However, the
study was based on small numbers and replication is needed to confirm
our results.” Only 25 participants felt strongly associated with goth
culture.
Self-harming, Young says, is a behaviour that people often employ as a
mechanism to deal with negative emotions. “It may be used as a
quick-fix. Some physiological studies have shown that endorphins
[brain chemicals that produce a feeling of well-being] are released
after episodes of self-harm,” he told New Scientist.
Just 2% of the adolescents in the study identified with goth culture,
although 8% said they had identified with it at some point in their
lives. But it is a strongly non-violent and accepting subculture,
which teens may find offers a supportive environment.
Michael van Beinum, a psychiatrist for children and adolescents, who
advised on the study, agrees: “For some young people with mental
health problems, a goth subculture may be attractive as it may allow
them to find a community within which it may be easier for their
distress to be understood.”
The 1980s goth culture grew out of the post-Punk movement and
underwent a revival in the mid-1990s. Central to goth belief is the
black aesthetic – taking icons that society regards as evil, such as
skull imagery, and making them beautiful.
Journal reference: British Medical Journal (vol 332, p 909)"
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8996&feedId=online-news_rss20
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: News: Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children |
15 Apr 2006 02:42:25 AM |
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Michael Gray wrote:
Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children
00:01 14 April 2006
NewScientist.com news service
Gaia Vince
About half of teenage goths have deliberately harmed themselves or
attempted suicide, a new study suggests. But joining the modern
subculture - which grew out of the 1980s gothic rock scene - may
actually protect vulnerable children, researchers say.
<snip>
Researchers at University of Glasgow found that while most
self-harmers started the practice at age 12 to 13, they did not become
goths until they were a couple of years older, on average.
<snip>
"Rather than posing a risk, it's also possible that by belonging to
the goth subculture, young people are gaining valuable social and
emotional support from their peers." But he cautions: "However, the
study was based on small numbers and replication is needed to confirm
our results." Only 25 participants felt strongly associated with goth
culture.
Gee. Meeting people who feel the same as you and showing you
that you're normal reduces the rate of suicide. Who'da thunkit?
Marilyn Manson still sucks, but this debunks the myth of his
"music" or Heavy Metal driving kids to commit suicide.
Undoubtedly kids turn to goth for the same reason kids join
sports teams or wear fashionable clothes: to feel they fit in at
the age they feel most alienated.
Just 2% of the adolescents in the study identified with goth culture,
although 8% said they had identified with it at some point in their
lives. But it is a strongly non-violent and accepting subculture,
which teens may find offers a supportive environment.
It *is* non-violent, despite lies told to the contrary. And you
can add Industrial and Psychobilly to that list.
You want to talk about violent music? How about redneck country
or xian filth - oops, I mean faith - music?
Journal reference: British Medical Journal (vol 332, p 909)"
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8996&feedId=online-news_rss20
--
I never wore the look, but I always like the music. Bauhaus,
The Cramps and Ministry still rule.
Bob Dog
-----
"Easily the biggest challenge facing the ID community
is to develop a full-fledged theory of biological
design. We don't have such a theory right now, and
that's a real problem. Without a theory, it's very
hard to know where to direct your research focus."
- Paul Nelson, creationist
and anti-science advocate
"Maybe he needs a new version of the Ten Commandments
-- George W. Bush's Ten Commandments:
Thou shalt not steal...votes.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's...country.
Thou shalt not kill...for oil.
Thou shalt not take grammar...in vain."
- Margaret Cho
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: News: Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children |
15 Apr 2006 04:32:25 AM |
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On 15 Apr 2006 00:42:25 -0700, wrote:
- Refer: <1145086945.703712.195050@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
Michael Gray wrote:
Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children
00:01 14 April 2006
NewScientist.com news service
Gaia Vince
About half of teenage goths have deliberately harmed themselves or
attempted suicide, a new study suggests. But joining the modern
subculture - which grew out of the 1980s gothic rock scene - may
actually protect vulnerable children, researchers say.
<snip>
Researchers at University of Glasgow found that while most
self-harmers started the practice at age 12 to 13, they did not become
goths until they were a couple of years older, on average.
<snip>
"Rather than posing a risk, it's also possible that by belonging to
the goth subculture, young people are gaining valuable social and
emotional support from their peers." But he cautions: "However, the
study was based on small numbers and replication is needed to confirm
our results." Only 25 participants felt strongly associated with goth
culture.
Gee. Meeting people who feel the same as you and showing you
that you're normal reduces the rate of suicide. Who'da thunkit?
Marilyn Manson still sucks, but this debunks the myth of his
"music" or Heavy Metal driving kids to commit suicide.
Undoubtedly kids turn to goth for the same reason kids join
sports teams or wear fashionable clothes: to feel they fit in at
the age they feel most alienated.
:
Next thing you know, them EVOL ATHIESTS will be starting up a
newsgroup of their own, so they can claim to feel 'at home' with those
who think like them!
You just wait an' see!
--
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