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