Examining the negative perceptions of the older generation towards punks in terms of their appearance.

To make my sampling as equal as possible I have spoken to 10 males and 10 females, all white and all middle class.

Findings

Primary research findings

From my primary research I have found that:

* Males of the older generation are more tolerant of a punk's dress code than females.

* The couples I interviewed with children are more tolerant than those without children.

* Both males and females have very strong stereotypes of a punk's dress code.

* Males were more likely to assume that a person who is punk does not have a job.

* Females were more likely to assume that a punk would work in a music shop, or do something creative, E.g. Website designer.

* Females are more likely to feel intimidated by a large group of punk's.

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Secondary research findings

For my secondary research I was interested at looking at the different types of perceptual errors people can make. There are 9 different types of perceptual errors according to Between Ourselves (Burton and Dimbleby 1988). A few of these are relevant to my work:

* False Consensus- a tendency to assume that other people agree with our own views.

* Primacy Effect- a tendency to fix first impressions and to build on these rather than be open to changing our views of others.

* Halo Effect- tendency to privilege one piece of information above others when forming an impression of someone.

* Recency Effect- tendency for people to perceive others in terms of the last thing that they have said or done.

* Stereotyping- the quick and simple way of classifying people. Stereotypes are quickly made assumptions and predictions made about people based on preconceptions and very little real information.

I found information on the labelling process, which I thought would be helpful to me. The labelling process is where certain social actions or ideas and those which perform or express them become defined as deviant.

Information on subcultures is also helpful to me as punk, although only being a small group of people, is still a subculture. A subculture is defined as an alternative to the dominant culture in society. Subcultures have their own system of values, norms and beliefs and in some cases their own language codes. Such systems are often expressions of rejection of, or resistance to the dominant culture. Members of subcultures are often those whom dominant culture awards low, subordinate and/or dependent status. Each subculture represents the reactions of a particular social group to its experience of society. Others may label some subcultures and their member's deviant in society.

Conclusion

From my research I have found that the older generation is not as frightened of punks as I first did think. They do not see them as aggressive, but believe they wish to be perceived that way. They can find large groups of them intimidating.. In short I found that people are not particularly affected by the dress codes of punks and therefore do not feel the need to treat them any differently than other young people.

Alex Penn Communications Coursework Lynne