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The representation of authority: an adolescent viewpoint
Journal of Adolescence
|September 1, 1985
Summary
Young people generally have positive attitudes toward authority figures like parents, teachers, and police, contrary to common belief. This study found favorable views, especially towards police and parents, challenging the notion of widespread adolescent anti-authority sentiment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Adolescent Development
Background:
- Adolescent participation in society is often linked to attitudes toward authority.
- Previous research frequently suggests adolescents are generally anti-authority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate young people's attitudes towards authority figures (parents, teachers, police).
- To examine the relationship between attitudes to authority and individual/contextual variables.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 2046 young people assessing attitudes towards parents, teachers, and police.
- Multivariate analysis of attitudes as a tripartite dependent variable.
Main Results:
- Adolescents displayed favorable attitudes towards parents, teachers, and especially police.
- Attitudes varied by individual attributes (sex, age) and school context.
- Girls showed more favorable attitudes than boys; attitudes weakened with age.
- Schools with 'caring' principals showed weaker adult-authority relationships.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents are not generally anti-authority; favorable attitudes prevail, particularly towards police and parents.
- Attitudes toward authority are complex, influenced by gender, age, and school environment.
- Findings challenge prevailing literature and highlight the nuanced nature of adolescent-authority relationships.