Discussion Post: Contemporary Youth Culture
Youth culture can have a substantial impact on the behavior and attitudes of children and adolescents. Consider what you know about contemporary youth culture and how your knowledge or lack of knowledge could have an impact on the counseling process.
This week you explore the effects of youth culture on the behavior and attitudes of children and adolescents. In addition, you consider the challenges children and adolescents face in adhering to normative youth culture. In considering these challenges, you also explore confidentiality as an ethical issue to the profession. Also, think about ways you can develop empathy related to these challenges.
The term culture is defined as patterns of beliefs, values, goals, and behavioral practices that are characteristic of an institution, organization, or group (Prout & Brown, Ed., 2007, p. 65). Children and adolescents engage in their own unique culture, and there are many powerful factors that influence child and adolescent behavior. For example, children in kindergarten may express great affection for a popular cartoon character; however, children in first grade may consider such affection to be a sign of immaturity. The Internet is a popular source of communication among adolescents, and the culture of constant access has broken down barriers of privacy. This often has led to varying degrees of bullying or harassment. Clinicians working with children and adolescents must be knowledgeable of contemporary youth culture and the ways it can impact a child's or adolescent's thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
For this Discussion, select a magazine, news article, or some contemporary item depicting contemporary youth culture, and consider the core messages communicated through the magazine, news article, or contemporary item. Think about how these messages might impact children and adolescents and how your knowledge or lack of knowledge of this item might affect your ability to be an effective child and adolescent clinician.
Task
Write a brief description of the magazine, news article, or contemporary item you selected. Then, explain two core cultural messages communicated through the magazine, news article, or contemporary item. Next, explain how one way these core messages could positively affect a child or adolescent. Then, explain one way it could negatively affect a child or adolescent and how. Finally, explain how your understanding of contemporary youth culture may help you be an effective child and adolescent clinician. Be specific.
The response should include a reference list. One-inch margins, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space and APA style of writing and citations.