Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/33

Rh iems of mental hygiene believe that there is a direct relationship between the reading of undesirable literature aud improper behavior, They argue that juvenile delinquency frequently occurs alongside of excessive comic-book reading. They feel that the continuous stress on the excitement and glamor of crime might poison the thoughts and emotions of children, and, in certain cases, might cause them to become delinquents."

"The danger seems to be great. It is of crucial importance to find out whether comic-book reading really has the feared due outcome.

"To answer the questions as to whether the reading of comics actually results in antisocial behavior, the following experiment was made recently. Nearly 260 city boys of average intelligence and between the ages of 12 and 18 were closely investigated as to their reading habits and interests."

"Apparently comic-book reading in itself is not the cause of maladjustment all similar studies with respect to the effects of radio and television programs confirm the findings. * * *

"One thing seems to be certain: Excessive comic-book reading can be a symptom of maladjustment but it is rare)y, if ever, its cause, For example, a habitual young thief bas been found to be an ardent comic-book reader, Has this reading caused him to became a thief? Scarcely. We feel safe to say that his reading is a symptom of a long-standing personality problem but not the cause of his delinquency. This is true just as we know now that alcoholism is a symptom of an emotional disturbance but not its cause."

"We must attack delinquency and emotional disturbances at their roots. Yet we cannot overlook the fact that occasionally comics may be the vehicles of maladjustment. We can change the character of many comic books in a wholesome fashion; at the same time we do not have to remove from the books much that makes them attractive to our youth."

"Many comic-hook stories, too, contain an extremely harsh and punitive view with respect to their villains. * * * Frequently no motives for their acts are given but the basest and rudest ones, Stories of this kind do not frighten a potential delinquent. However, they can unnecessarily increase the anxiety of young people who are worried about their minor misdeeds. Moreover, such stories tend to blunt the sense of justice und the spirit of forgiveness, and thus they play the game of authoritarian philosophers."

"Comics have many faults but their damaging influence has been overrated. Official prohibition will not solve the problem because legislation would be virtually unenforceable. It would encourage illegal distribution and put a premium on reading the least desirable strips just because they are 'forbidden fruit.' Neither will censorship improve the stale of affairs, quite apart from the undesirability of all legal intervention in the field of literature. Only public pressure on comic-book publishers and editors will bring about a change for the better, Parents, teachers, ministers, child-welfare workers, and psychologists could successfully exert this pressure."

N. E. A. Research Bulletin. Schools help prevent delinquency (Wash.) v. 31, Oct. 1958, p. 107–108.

"From time to time crime depicted in comic hooks as well as on radio and television programs has been charged with directly contributing to juvenile delinquency. Conclusive evidence on the subject is not available. Reputable authorities are lined up on both sides of the question.

"The number of comic books in circulation in recent years has skyrocketed. As compared with about 10 million copies a month in the last 8 prewar years, the 1917 rate was 60 million copies a month. An estimated 40 percent of the purchasers are young folks between the ages of Sand 18 No estimate is readily available of the number of comic books concerned with sadistic crime and horror stories.

"Other mass mediums of communication also offer a strong diet of violence. On the four major radio networks, programs that embodied violence or threat of violence were transmitted for a total or more than 85 separate time periods in 1 week (1950). Television has a similar record. On 7 stations in the New