The authors examined the relationship between a preference for heavy metal music among a large sample of suburban high school youth (N = 715) and delinquency, controlling for parental and school-related variables, as well as delinquent associations. They found support for the hypothesis that heavy metal has an effect on delinquency when parental control is low. However, they found no support for the hypothesized interaction between a preference for heavy metal and delinquent peers. Contrary to expectations, those students with better school marks and a preference for heavy metal music had higher amounts of self-reported delinquency.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Agnew, Robert
. 1985. “A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency.”Social Forces64:151-166.
2.
Aiken, Leona S.
and Stephen G. West. 1991. Multiple Regression: Testing and Interpreting Interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
3.
Arnett, Jeffrey
. 1991. “Adolescents and Heavy Metal Music: From the Mouths of Metalheads”Youth & Society23:76-98.
4.
Barich, William
. 1986. “A Reporter at Large: The Crazy Life.”The New Yorker, November 3, pp. 97-130.
5.
Cloward, Richard
and Lloyd E. Ohlin. 1960. Delinquency and Opportunity: A Theory of Delinquent Gangs. New York: Free Press.
6.
Cohen, Albert K.
1955. Delinquent Boys. New York: Free Press.
7.
Fine, Gary A.
and Sheryl Kleinman. 1979. “Rethinking Subculture: An Interactionist Analysis.”American Journal of Sociology85:1-20.
8.
Gross, Robert L.1990. “Heavy Metal Music: A New Subculture in American Society.”Journal of Popular Culture24:119-130.
9.
Hagan, John
. 1991. “Destiny and Drift: Subcultural Preferences, Status Attainments, and the Risks and Rewards of Youth.”American Sociological Review56:567-582.
10.
Jaccard, James
, Robert Turrisi, and Choi E. Wan. 1990. Interactive Effects in Multiple Regression. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
11.
Matza, David
. 1964. Delinquency and Drift. New York: Wiley.
12.
Messner, Stephen F.1983. “Regional and Racial Effects on the Urban Homicide Rate: The Subculture of Violence Revisted.”American Journal of Sociology88:997-1007.
13.
Montgomery, David
. 1992. “Injuries, Arrests Vie with Music at Heavy-Metal Fest.”The Buffalo News, July 26, sec. C1, C4.
14.
Newman, Graeme R.1990. “Popular Culture and Criminal Justice: A Preliminary Analysis.”Journal of Criminal Justice18:261-274.
15.
Roe, Keith
. 1985. “Swedish Youth and Music: Listening Patterns and Motivations.”Communication Research12:353-362.
16.
Schwendinger, Herman
and Julia S. Schwendinger. 1985. Adolescent Subcultures and Delinquency. New York: Praeger.
17.
Shoemaker, D. J.
1990. Theories of Delinquency: An Examination of Explanations of Delinquent Behavior. 2nd ed.New York: Oxford.
18.
Stack, Steven
and Jim Gundlach. 1992. “The Effects of Country Music on Suicide.”Social Forces71:211-218.
19.
Willis, Paul
. 1978. Profane Culture. London: Routledge.
20.
Willis, Paul
. 1990. Common Culture. England: Open University.
