Early Adolescent Music Preferences and Minor Delinquency

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Adolescent music preferences have been linked to problem behavior in cross-sectional studies. Particularly, preferences for loud, rebellious, and so-called "deviant" music predict externalizing problem behavior, such as minor delinquency and substance abuse. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:There is a theoretical rationale for associations between music preferences and minor delinquency. Preferences for rock, African American music, and electronic dance music indicate later minor delinquency. Music preferences are better markers of later delinquency compared with early adolescent delinquency.abstract OBJECTIVES: To test Music Marker Theory (MMT) positing that early adolescents' preferences for nonmainstream types of popular music indicate concurrent and later minor delinquency. METHODS:MMT was tested in a 4-year longitudinal study (n = 309). RESULTS:The results showed that early fans of different types of rock (eg, rock, heavy metal, gothic, punk), African American music (rhythm and blues, hip-hop), and electronic dance music (trance, techno/ hardhouse) showed elevated minor delinquency concurrently and longitudinally. Preferring conventional pop (chart pop) or highbrow music (classic music, jazz), in contrast, was not related to or was negatively related to minor delinquency. CONCLUSIONS:Early music preferences emerged as more powerful indicators of later delinquency rather than early delinquency, indicating that music choice is a strong marker of later problem behavior. The mechanisms through which music preferences are linked to minor delinquency are discussed within the framework of MMT. Pediatrics 2013;131:e380-e389 AUTHORS:

Music Preferences, Friendship, and Externalizing Behavior in Early Adolescence: A SIENA Examination of the Music Marker Theory Using the SNARE Study

“…Even while controlling for these alternative explanations of the development of externalizing behavior, music preference predicted future externalizing behavior. This is in line with the findings of Ter Bogt and colleagues (2013). However, this is in contrast to the study of Steglich et al (2006) who did not find such influence effects from music preference while investigating alcohol use among 129 adolescents of the age of 13 year, using three yearly assessments.…”

Music through the ages: Trends in musical engagement and preferences from adolescence through middle adulthood.

“…Adolescence is a period marked by identity uncertainty and intense pressures to conform (Erikson, 1968;Harter, 1999;Hartup, 1989), and music plays an integral part in helping young people explore their identities and form relationships with peers (Delsing, 2008;ter Bogt, Keijsers, & Meeus, 2013). Indeed, adolescents use music as an identity badge that serves as a symbolic representation of their values and beliefs (Frith, 1981).…”

School’s out forever? Heavy metal preferences and higher education

“…This suggests a situation similar to that of burnouts in Coleman’s classical work [29]. This idea is further developed by Ter Bogt, Keijsers [30], who argues that music identity has causal effects on behavior based on group closure and social contagion effects. In sum, this strand of theory suggests a causal effect of metal preferences on educational ambitions.…”

“…However, in these cases, the child had experienced troubles long before becoming a metal fan [42], leaving metal as an unlikely explanation of the suicide. However, a few recent studies [30, 43] have addressed selection more adequately than the early literature, but still found that metal was related to negative outcomes.…”