The terrifying abyss of insignificance

Marginalisation, mattering and violence between young people

Egileak

  • Luke Billingham Hackney Quest
  • Keir Irwin-Rogers The Open University

##plugins.pubIds.doi.readerDisplayName##:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1178

Gako-hitzak:

Young people, mattering, violence

Laburpena

The concept of mattering can be helpful for understanding the ways in which structural and historical factors affect individual psychologies. This paper lays out the usefulness of mattering as a lens through which to examine why a small minority of young people in Britain commit violent acts. We first explore what it means to matter and the evidence linking the quest to matter with violence, and then examine the factors in contemporary Britain which can diminish a young person’s sense of mattering, using recent community research. We then critique the British government’s attempt to address the problem of violence through Gang Injunctions and Knife Crime Prevention Orders. We conclude by suggesting that policy-makers could gain substantial insight from investigating the connections between marginalisation, mattering and violence, rather than focusing disproportionately on the music young people choose to listen to or create, or the specific weapon that they opt to carry.

##plugins.generic.usageStats.downloads##

##plugins.generic.usageStats.noStats##

        Metrics

Views 1902
Downloads:
PDF (English) 1958
XML (English) 165


##submission.authorBiographies##

##submission.authorWithAffiliation##

Luke Billingham. Hackney Quest. Email address: luke@hackneyquest.org.uk

##submission.authorWithAffiliation##

Keir Irwin-Rogers. Lecturer in Criminology. Open University. Email address: Keir.Irwin-Rogers@open.ac.uk

Erreferentziak

Anderson, E., 2000. Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City. New York: W.W. Norton.

Arendt, H., 1970. On Violence. New York: Harcourt.

Barker, J., et al., 2010. Pupils or prisoners? Institutional geographies and internal exclusion in UK secondary schools. Area [online], 42(3), 378–386. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2009.00932.x [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2009.00932.x

Billingham, L., 2018. Hackney Wick Through Young Eyes: What local young people value, the problems they face, and what they want to change. London: Wick Award and Hackney Quest.

Billingham, L., and Irwin-Rogers, K., 2020. Mattering and the Violence in our Cities. In: R. Atkinson, ed., Urban Crisis, Urban Hope. London: Routledge.

Blazey, L., et al., 2017. Young people’s capital of the world? [online]. Report. London Youth. March. Available from: http://londonyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Young-peoples-capital-of-the-world-March-2017.pdf [Access 24 February 2019].

Bond, E., and Hallsworth, S., 2017. The Degradation and Humiliation of Young People. In: V. Cooper and D. Whyte, eds., The Violence of Austerity. London: Pluto, 75–84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1pv8988.10

Bourdieu, P., 1979. Distinction. London: Routledge.

Bronfenbrenner, U., 1979. The Ecology of Human Development. Harvard University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674028845

Broucek, F., 1979. Efficacy in Infancy: A Review of Some Experimental Studies and Their Possible Implications for Clinical Theory. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 60, 311–16.

Butcher, M., and Dickens, L., 2016. Spatial dislocation and affective displacement: Youth perspectives on gentrification in London. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research [online], 40(4), 800–816. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.12432 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.12432

Carr, R., Slothower, M., and Parkinson, J., 2017. Do Gang Injunctions Reduce Violent Crime? Four Tests in Merseyside, UK. Cambridge Journal of Evidence-Based Policing [online], 1(4), 195–210. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41887-017-0015-x [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41887-017-0015-x

Chiodo, D., et al., 2012. Longitudinal prediction and concurrent functioning of adolescent girls demonstrating various profiles of dating violence and victimization. Prevention Science [online], 13, 350–359. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-011-0236-3 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-011-0236-3

Collins, R., 2008. Violence: A Micro-sociological Theory. Oxford: Princeton University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400831753

Community Links, 2019. Community Conversations: Unearthing community-led ideas for tackling youth violence [online]. Canning Town: Community Links. Available from: https://www.community-links.org/wp-content/uploads/Community-Links-Community-Conversations-2018.pdf [Access 3 March 2019].

Contreras, R., 2013. The Stickup Kids: Race, Drugs, Violence and the American Dream. Berkeley: University of California Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520953574

Crouch, C., 2004. Post-Democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Currie, E., 2016. The Roots of Danger. Oxford University Press.

De Zulueta, F., 2001. Violent attachments and attachment to violence. In: S.L. Bloom, ed., Violence: A Public Health Menace and a Public Health Approach. London: Karnac, 31–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429484681-2

Dorling, D., 2018. Peak Inequality: Britain’s Ticking Time Bomb. Bristol: Policy Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56687/9781447349082

Duckworth, J., 2002. Fagin’s Children: Criminal Children in Victorian England. London: Hambledon & London.

Ebner, J., 2019. Who are Europe’s far-right identitarians? Politico [online], 4 April. Available from: https://www.politico.eu/article/who-are-europe-far-right-identitarians-austria-generation-identity-martin-sellner/ [Access 10 May 2020].

Edwards, K.M., and Neal, A.M., 2017. School and community characteristics related to dating violence victimization among high school youth. Psychology of Violence, 7(2), 203–212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000065

Elliott, G.C., 2009. Family Matters: The Importance of Mattering to Family in Adolescence. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444305784

Elliott, G.C., Colangelo, M., and Gelles, R.J., 2005. Mattering and Suicide Ideation: Establishing and Elaborating a Relationship. Social Psychology Quarterly [online], 68(3), 223–238. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250506800303 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250506800303

Elliott, G.C., et al., 2011. Perceived mattering to the family and physical violence in the family by adolescents. Journal of Family Issues [online], 32(8), 1007–1029. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X11398932 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X11398932

Elliott, G.C., Kao, S., and Grant, A., 2004. Mattering: Empirical Validation of a Social-Psychological Concept. Self and Identity [online], 3(4), 339–354. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000119 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000119

Ellis, A., 2016. Men, Masculinities and Violence. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315744827

Flett, G., 2018. The Psychology of Mattering: Understanding the Human Need to be Significant. London: Academic Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809415-0.00014-1

Flett, G., et al., 2016. Antecedents, correlates, and consequences of feeling like you don’t matter: Associations with maltreatment, loneliness, social anxiety, and the five-factor model. Personality and Individual Differences [online], vol. 92, 52–56. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.12.014 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.12.014

Gaskell, C., 2005. Fighting for Respect: Youth, Violence and Citizenship in East London. Ph.D Thesis. Queen Mary, University of London.

Geuss, R., 2016. Reality and Its Dreams. London: Harvard University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674968936

Gill, K., Quilter-Pinner, H., and Swift, D., 2017. Making the Difference: Breaking the link between school exclusion and social exclusion [online]. October. London: Institute for Public Policy Research. Available from: https://www.ippr.org/files/2017-10/making-the-difference-report-october-2017.pdf [Access 10 March 2019].

Gilligan, J., 1997. Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic. New York: Vintage.

Graeber, D., 2018. Bullshit Jobs: A Theory. London: Allen Lane.

Green, A., 2017. The Crisis for Young People. London: Palgrave Macmillan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58547-5

Groos, K., 1901. The Play of Man. Trans.: E.L. Baldwin. New York: Appleton. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/13084-000

Harding, S., 2014. The Street Casino: Survival in Violent Street Gangs. Bristol: Policy Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447317173.001.0001

Harris, P., 2017. Inter-subjectivity and Worker Self-Disclosure in Professional Relationships with Young People: A Psychosocial study of Youth Violence and Desistance. The Howard Journal [online], 56(4), 516–531. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/hojo.12229 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12229

Irwin-Rogers, K., 2019. Illicit Drug Markets, Consumer Capitalism, and the Rise of Social Media: A Toxic Trap for Young People. Critical Criminology [online], 27, 591–610. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-019-09476-2 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-019-09476-2

Irwin-Rogers, K., Muthoo, A., and Billingham, L., 2020. The Youth Violence Commission Final Report [online]. Available from: http://yvcommission.com/final-report/ [Access 3 November 2020].

Irwin-Rogers, K., et al., 2019. Street gangs and urban violence in Europe. In: I. Vojnovic et al., eds., Handbook of Global Urban Health: The Metropolis and Modern Life. New York: Routledge, 484–508. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315465456-31

Jasko, K., Lafree, G., and Kruglanski, A., 2016. Quest for Significance and Violent Extremism: The Case of Domestic Radicalization. Political Psychology [online], 38(5), 815–831. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pops.12376 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12376

Katz, J., 1990. Seductions of Crime: Moral and Sensual Attractions in Doing Evil. New York: Basic Books. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1143770

Kleinberg, B., and McFarlane, P., 2020. Violent music vs violence and music: Drill rap and violent crime in London. arXiv:2004.04598 [cs.SI] [online], 9 April. Available from: https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.04598 [Access 3 November 2020].

Kruglanski, A., et al., 2014. The Psychology of Radicalization and Deradicalization: How Significance Quest Impacts Violent Extremism. Advances in Political Psychology [online], vol. 35, suppl. 1, 69–93. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12163 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12163

Kulz, C., 2017. Factories for Learning. Manchester University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526116185

Lalander, P., and Sernhede, O., 2011. Social mobilization or street crimes: two strategies among young urban outcasts in contemporary Sweden. EDUCARE, 2, 99–121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24834/educare.2011.2.1212

Lane, J., 2019. The Digital Street. New York: Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199381265.001.0001

Lauger, T., and Densley, J., 2018. Broadcasting badness: Violence, identity, and performance in the online gang rap scene. Justice Quarterly [online], 35(5), 816–841. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2017.1341542 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2017.1341542

Lewis, D.M., 2017. A matter for concern: Young offenders and the importance of mattering. Deviant Behavior [online], 38(11), 1318–1331. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2016.1197659 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2016.1197659

Leys, C., 2003. Market-Driven Politics. London: Verso.

Lunghy, E., et al., 2019. Insiders Looking Out: Solutions to Youth Violence from People who have Lived it. London: The Winch.

Lynes, A., Kelly, C., and Kelly, E., 2020. Thug Life: Drill Music as a Periscope into Urban Violence in the Consumer Age. The British Journal of Criminology [online], 60(5), 1201–1219. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azaa011 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azaa011

Marshall, S.K., 2004. Relative contributions of perceived mattering to parents and friends in predicting adolescents’ psychological wellbeing. Perceptual and Motor Skills [online], 99(2), 591–601. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.99.2.591-601 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.99.2.591-601

Marx, K., 2000. Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts. In: D. McLellan, ed., Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Oxford University Press, 83–121. (Originally published in 1844).

May, R., 1998. Power and Innocence: A Search for the Sources of Violence. New York: Norton.

Mishra, P., 2018. Age of Anger. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Raque-Bogdan, T.L., et al., 2011. Attachment and Mental and Physical Health: Self-Compassion and Mattering as Mediators. Journal of Counselling Psychology [online], 58(2), 272–278. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023041 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023041

Rosenberg, M., and McCullough, B.C., 1981. Mattering: Inferred significance and mental health among adolescents. Research in Community & Mental Health, 2, 163–182

Schieman, S., and Taylor, J., 2001. Statuses, Roles, and the Sense of Mattering. Sociological Perspectives, 44(4), 469–484. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/sop.2001.44.4.469

Schlossberg, N., 1989. Marginality and mattering: key issues in building community. New Directions for Student Services [online], 48, 5–15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.37119894803 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.37119894803

Schumaker, J., 1997. Religious Motivation Across Cultures. In: D. Munro, J.F. Schumaker and S.C. Carr, eds., Motivation and Culture. London: Routledge, 193–209.

Sharpe, J., 2016. A Fiery and Furious People: A History of Violence in England. London: Penguin.

Stanfield, L., 2018. Mattering: Foundations for Flourishing Lives. London: Claremont Project.

Storrod, M., and Densley, J., 2017. “Going viral” and “Going country”: The expressive and instrumental activities of street gangs on social media. Journal of Youth Studies [online], 20(6), 677–696. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2016.1260694 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2016.1260694

Streeck, W., 2014. Buying Time: The Delayed Crisis of Democratic Capitalism. London: Verso.

Streeck, W., 2016. How Will Capitalism End? London: Verso.

Sullivan, M.L., 2005. Maybe we shouldn’t study “gangs”: Does reification obscure youth violence? Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice [online], 21(2), 170–190. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986204272912 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986204272912

Taylor, J., and Turner, J., 2001. A Longitudinal Study of the Role and Significance of Mattering to Others for Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Health and Social Behavior [online], 42(3), 310–325. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2307/3090217 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3090217

Thapar, C., 2019. Don’t censor drill music, listen to what it’s trying to tell us. The Guardian [online], 6 February. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/06/dont-censor-drill-music-listen-skengdo-am [Access 3 November 2020].

Vigil, J.D., 1988. Group processes and street identity: Adolescent Chicano Gang Members. Ethos [online], 16(4), 421–445. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1525/eth.1988.16.4.02a00040 [Access 3 November 2020]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/eth.1988.16.4.02a00040

Vigil, J.D., and Yun, S.D., 1998. Vietnamese Youth Gangs in the Context of Multiple Marginality and the Los Angeles Youth Gang Phenomenon. In: K. Hazlehurst and C. Hazlehurst, eds., Gangs and Youth Subcultures: International Explorations. New Brunswick: Transaction.

Wacquant, L., 2007. Urban Outcasts: A Comparative Sociology of Advanced Marginality. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Winlow, S., and Hall, S., 2013. Rethinking Social Exclusion: The End of the Social? London: Sage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473914698

Young, J., 1999. The Exclusive Society. London: Sage.

##submission.downloads##

Argitaratuta

2021-10-01

##submission.howToCite##

Billingham, L. eta Irwin-Rogers, K. (2021) «The terrifying abyss of insignificance: Marginalisation, mattering and violence between young people», Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 11(5), or. 1222–1249. doi: 10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1178.