1. Democracy and Delinquency: An International Comparison of Youth Violence Associated with Alternative Lifestyles, Beliefs, and Practices Dr. Gordon A. CrewsDr. Angela D. West The Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security: An International Conference June 9-11, 2005

2. Democracy and Delinquency: An International Comparison of Youth Violence Associated with Alternative Lifestyles, Beliefs, and Practices This presentation was given as an invited presentation for The Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security: An International Conference Organized by the Turkish National Police Under the Auspices of the Prime Minister of Turkey and his Excellency Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan Istanbul, Turkey June 9-11, 2005 Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" June 9-11, 20052

3. Introduction: Problem Statement Problems One: Existence of Groups/Behavior Two: Responses to Groups/Behavior

4. Problem #1 Existence

5. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 20055 Goths Black Circles Black Metal Bands/Fans Satanists Preppie Gangs Vampires Wiccans, Witches, Warlocks, & Magicians “New” Youth Groups/Interests

6. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 20056 Comparisons: Timeline and Type United StatesUnited Kingdom Scandinavia (Norway) (Finland) (Sweden) (*Denmark) Netherlands (*Amsterdam) (*Rotterdam) Europe (France) (Italy) (Germany) Eastern Europe (Russia) (Poland) Middle East Turkey DatesLate 1970s Early 1990s Early 1990s- present Late 1990s GroupsHeavy Metal, Satanists, Punks, Skinheads, Goth, Wiccans/ Vampires, Black Metal Punk, Skinheads, Goth, Heavy Metal, Black Metal/ Black Circles Black Metal/Black Circles Heavy MetalSatanists, Heavy Metal, Black Metal/ Black Circles Black Metal/ Black Circles, Death Metal Heavy Metal** Heavy Metal/ Satanism * no reported violence ** purported to be Satanism by government

7. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 20057 Criminal Activity Associated with "Alternative" Beliefs & Involvements Actual Involvement in Teenage Groups/Gangs Trespassing Vandalism Desecration of & Thefts From Churches & Cemeteries Animal Mutilations Teen Suicide Isolated Violent Incidents Perceived Child Abuse Kidnapping Murder Human Sacrifice

8. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 20058 Where do they meet? Graveyards Woods Abandoned buildings Caves Bridges Rock Quarries Churches Open Fields Abandoned factories Nightclubs Playgrounds State Parks Historical Landmarks Warehouses Ranger Outlook Stations Train Tunnels Roads/underpasses

9. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 20059 Lime Club, Berlin Red Light District, AmsterdamDark Friday, Berlin Baroeg, Rotterdam Christiania, Denmark

10. Problem # 2 Response

11. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200511 Perceived problems What are the Perceived problems? Teen Groups and/or Gangs Appearance Behavior

12. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200512 What Are the Actual problems?

13. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200513 Societal/Governmental Response “Media Frenzy” Media reports events/incidents~ supposed unbiased coverage Tabloid papers exploit and exaggerate Media/Tabloid Press Coverage Reports/Hysteria hit US media in late 1980s Reports/Hysteria hit UK media in early 1990s Reports/Hysteria hit Scandinavia in late 1990s Reports/Hysteria hit Middle East in early 2000s

14. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200514 Societal/Governmental Response The phenomenon of “Witch Hunting” is still alive!!! 1.Underlying fear Usually a flaw or degree of tension in the social order before a “witch hunt” starts. 2.Trigger Some event(s) is a catalyst to mobilize the fear into action. 3.Scapegoats To expel the fear aroused by the trigger, some blame must be placed. Society looks for scapegoats to be diminished and punished for causing fear.

15. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200515 Societal/Governmental Response “Political Escapism” Government busy suppressing acts of “youthful non-conformity” Diversion from real social issues Poverty, corruption, and administrative incompetence “Moral Panic” Old labels not threatening enough (“homosexual,” “drug addict”) Labeling any misunderstood, feared, or superstitious group or act as “Satanic” generates public support for any governmental response

16. Theoretical Aspects

17. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200517 WHY KIDS BECOME INVOLVED Biological & Psychological Changes Emotional & Social Stress Identity Work Adolescent Egocentrism Imaginary Audience Invincibility Myth Poor Social Conditions Boredom Alienation Pessimism Powerlessness Poverty Low Self-Esteem Abuse Hopelessness Gangs Drugs Sex Crime Suicide Runaway Occult & Satanism Power Identity Shock Belonging Different Cope Adolescence Root Causes Options

18. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200518 WHY CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT? Survey Trends Revealed: Most Enjoy the “Power” Over Others Most Believe They Are “Superior” to Others Most Enjoy Togetherness With Groups Many State They Found a Group Where They “Fit In” then Most picked on UNTIL they took on this identity ~ then feared by others!

19. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200519 Theory of Youth Alternative Lifestyle Involvement Initial Involvement Anomie + Social Bond (Cultural) Strain (Rebels) Continued Involvement Labeling + Moral Panic Social Bond (Subcultural) Criminal Involvement Social Bond (Subcultural)

20. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200520 Modes of Adaptation (Merton) GoalsMeans Conformist + + Ritualist - + Innovator + - Retreatist - - Rebel -/+ -/+

21. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200521 Social Bond (Hirschi) Youth will conform to the law unless they develop weakened or broken “bonds” to society Attachment Commitment Belief Involvement

22. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200522 Labeling Theory Revisited? Appearance Reactions Acting Out

23. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200523 United StatesUnited Kingdom Scandinavia (Norway) (Finland) (Sweden) (*Denmark) Netherlands (*Amsterdam) (*Rotterdam) Europe (France) (Italy) (Germany) Eastern Europe (Russia) (Poland) Middle EastTurkey Goal/ Focus Individual Interests Individual Interests/ Racial/ Religious Nationalism/ Religious Individual Interests/ Music Individual Interests/ Racial/ Nationalism/ Religious Nationalism/ Racial/ Religious Individual Interests/ Western Influences, Music Individual Interests/ Religious Means/ Behaviors Socializing, Appearance, Vandalism, Trespassing, Desecration of & Thefts From Churches & Cemeteries, Teenage Groups/ Gangs Animal Mutilations Teen Suicide Isolated Incidents Socializing, Appearance, Vandalism, Trespassing, Desecration of & Thefts From Churches & Cemeteries, Teenage Groups/Gangs, Animal Mutilations, Teen Suicide, Isolated Incidents, Church Burnings Socializing, Appearance, Propaganda, Vandalism, Trespassing, Desecration of & Thefts From Churches & Cemeteries, Teenage Groups/ Gangs, Isolated Incidents, Church Burnings Socializing, Appearance Socializing, Appearance, Propaganda, Ritualistic Violence, Church Burnings Socializing, Appearance, Propaganda, Ritualistic Violence Homosexuality, Music, Mimicking Western Culture Socializing, Appearance, Ritualistic Violence * no reported violence ** purported to be Satanism by government Comparisons: Goals and Means

24. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200524 CulturalSubcultural Extremist Self-Styled Practitioner ConformistTraditionalist Disregard Seek Alternative Low Crime/ Delinquency High Average Dabbler OR Theory of Youth Alternative Lifestyle Involvement

25. Turkey’s Experience

26. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200526 Turkey Examples Istanbul: “Human Sacrifice to Satan” (1999) Youth held rituals in a “disaffected arsenal” in Istanbul’s residential Atakoy district and met in heavy metal bars in the central Taksim commercial and entertainment area Two young men and one young woman offered a young woman, picked up in a bar, as a human sacrifice to Satan to stop earthquakes Victim was taken to an Ortakoy cemetery where she was stabbed and killed by hammer blows to the head; her corpse was sexually violated “in accordance with Satanist ritual” Media Response: Reports that “Satanism” had become a trend with Istanbul’s “marginal” youth Police Response: Raid the heavy metal bars

27. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200527 Cultural Implications for Response Pressure to conform to “Islamic” values But who defines them? Impact on Democratic State? How does a society protect it’s culture? Is culture something that lives and breathes? Is culture a fossil that must be protected? How much should a society protect it’s culture from “Foreign Influences”?

28. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200528 What are the results? Most involved are young, wealthy, and highly educated (ability to offer much to their country) Experience official interference with their lifestyle Great source of disillusionment (coupled with stress over failure of governmental policies or lack of democracy) Undermines the public credibility of authorities Many young people emigrate out of sheer frustration ( talent is lost ) Cultural Implications for Response

29. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200529 Potential Problems Turkey’s continuing efforts to join the EU Sweeping changes in the Penal Code Could result in anomie and uncertainty about standards of behavior Could result in more Turkish youth seeking alternative lifestyles Inadequate/effective societal and police response Perpetuation/worsening of behaviors

30. Responses and Results

31. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200531 United StatesUnited Kingdom Scandinavia (Norway) (Finland) (Sweden) (*Denmark) Netherlands (*Amsterdam) (*Rotterdam) Europe (France) (Italy) (Germany) Eastern Europe (Russia) (Poland) Middle EastTurkey ResponseMedia frenzy, reports of a national “epidemic,” portrayal as religious battle, labeling, moral panic Media frenzy, move to ban music and dress, National Reports Address individual criminal acts Media frenzy, move to ban music and dress, confiscation of materials, searches of homes Address individual criminal acts Raiding clubs, Charges of “Undermining Muslim Faith/ Opposition of Good Morals,” Confiscating materials, Labeling, Political escapism, Creating a moral panic Media claims that Satanism a “trend” with “marginal” youth ResultsContinued alienation of youth, misunderstan ding, exaggeration and perpetuation, barrier to proper response Appear to have proper response Continued alienation of youth, misunderstan ding, exaggeration and perpetuation, barrier to proper response Appear to have proper response Continued alienation of youth, misunderstandi ng, exaggeration and perpetuation, barrier to proper response Opportunity to form proper social response * no reported violence ** purported to be Satanism by government Comparisons: Response and Results

32. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200532 Are These Involvements a “Bad” Influence? What we know Teenagers move on Appealing initially Answer to personal problems Same basic decisions “Outlet” for juvenile depression  Advice  Don’t make assumptions  Alienated kids with problems  Do NOT target kids  Let kids develop as they will  Show them respect

33. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200533 Possible Solutions Self-fulfilling Prophecy The More We Define It As an Out-of-control Teenage Problem, the More We May Drive Kids to It Symbols of a New Counterculture? Similar to the “Hippies” Careful Dissemination of Information Those Trying to Prevent, Often Get More Kids Involved What Does Involvement Actually Show? Extreme Pessimism, Nihilism, Hopelessness, Low Self-esteem, and Poor Social Conditions

34. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200534 Biggest Problem Is …

35. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200535 A final thought …. “The fanaticism that destroyed the heart of a Puritan community in 1692 remains a force today, fueling a hostile intolerance that keeps us divided … This failure to see ourselves in each other’s faces will keep us separate, in the shadow of Salem, Massachusetts- unless we stand by one another, both in our streets and in our souls.” Jan Phillips, The Craft of the Wise, 1993

36. Dr. Gordon A. Crews and Dr. Angela D. West ~ "Goth Gestalt" Summer 200536