Guns May Hold 'Unique Allure' for Young Boys

10-25-2003, 09:05 PM

Press Release
Health Behavior News Service
c/o Center for the Advancement of Health
2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Suite 210
Washington, DC 20009-1231
www.hbns.org

Contact:
Marjorie Hardy
Phone: 727-864-7562

Many boys say they are not interested in playing with guns and may even describe them as their least favorite object in a group of play items, but many will still touch a gun if left alone with one, new research suggests.

Almost two-thirds of the boys who touched an air pistol when left alone with it also said that the gun was their least favorite object in a group of play items, according to the study by Marjorie S. Hardy, Ph.D., of Eckerd College published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

"Nonetheless, their behaviors belied the truth-they were curious enough about the gun to pick it up," she says.

Declaring a gun off-limits has little effect on the actual behavior of boys looking for a toy, the researchers found. Boys who were cautioned not to touch the gun were not any more or less likely to do so, suggesting that warnings themselves do not turn guns into tempting objects for boys.

In fact, boys younger than 12 said they were less interested in the gun after being strongly warned not to touch it. However, these younger boys were significantly more likely than older boys to touch the guns.

"The overall pattern of results in the study reinforces the idea that guns hold a unique allure and instructions not to touch them have limited impact on behavior," Hardy says.

"The findings also demonstrate the inconsistency between the children's self-reported interest in guns and their actual behavior," she adds.

The study included 55 boys ages 9 to 15 who were recruited from a summer camp. The boys were shown a variety of play objects, like Legos, a GameBoy and art supplies, along with an unloaded and disarmed air pistol. The boys then ranked the objects according to how much they wanted to play with them.

When the boys returned a week later, they were left alone with the objects while the researcher left the room for a short while. Boys who had ranked the gun as their least favorite plaything were warned not to touch one of other objects, while boys who had shown at least some preference for the gun were warned not to touch it.

Through a two-way mirror, Hardy and her colleagues watched the boys to see if they would touch the gun or other forbidden object. Many of those who were not warned against the gun still touched or played with it when they were alone, although all but three of the boys denied touching it when the researcher returned to the room.

None of the boys touched any other forbidden items after the researcher warned against them.

According to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 3,385 children and teens were killed by gunfire in 1999.

:assult:

lefty o · 10-25-2003, 09:09 PM

i wonder how many were killed in car accidents?

10-25-2003, 09:09 PM

http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/...567345,00.html

btw I am posting this as a "Heads Up !"

10-25-2003, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lefty o
i wonder how many were killed in car accidents?

or died in swimming pools

7mmag6 · 10-26-2003, 12:14 AM

Notice how they lump gun violence and substance abuse

pmspinnerb8 · 10-26-2003, 11:07 AM

I remember there were always guns around when I was growing up, I never had the allure to mess with them, because they were no big deal. My dad taught me from an early age and went went shooting as often as we could. There was 0% mystery in them for me. I think a lot of these parents sit there and say no touch, but then don't take the time to teach the kids and take away their curiosity.

Hugh Damright · 10-26-2003, 11:56 AM

I suppose that social engineering will have reached a milestone when boys can go into a room with a barbie doll, a tea party set, and a toy gun, and play with the dolls and have a tea party.

dhermesc · 10-27-2003, 07:20 AM

I go with pmspinnerb8 on this one. The press and anti's make guns out to be mystic objects that can dispense evil with their mere presence. Can you think of anything that would arouse a young boy's curiosity more (except sex)? Making them common removes the mystic.

10-25-2003, 09:05 PM	#1
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	Guns May Hold 'Unique Allure' for Young Boys Press Release Health Behavior News Service c/o Center for the Advancement of Health 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Suite 210 Washington, DC 20009-1231 www.hbns.org Contact: Marjorie Hardy Phone: 727-864-7562 Many boys say they are not interested in playing with guns and may even describe them as their least favorite object in a group of play items, but many will still touch a gun if left alone with one, new research suggests. Almost two-thirds of the boys who touched an air pistol when left alone with it also said that the gun was their least favorite object in a group of play items, according to the study by Marjorie S. Hardy, Ph.D., of Eckerd College published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. "Nonetheless, their behaviors belied the truth-they were curious enough about the gun to pick it up," she says. Declaring a gun off-limits has little effect on the actual behavior of boys looking for a toy, the researchers found. Boys who were cautioned not to touch the gun were not any more or less likely to do so, suggesting that warnings themselves do not turn guns into tempting objects for boys. In fact, boys younger than 12 said they were less interested in the gun after being strongly warned not to touch it. However, these younger boys were significantly more likely than older boys to touch the guns. "The overall pattern of results in the study reinforces the idea that guns hold a unique allure and instructions not to touch them have limited impact on behavior," Hardy says. "The findings also demonstrate the inconsistency between the children's self-reported interest in guns and their actual behavior," she adds. The study included 55 boys ages 9 to 15 who were recruited from a summer camp. The boys were shown a variety of play objects, like Legos, a GameBoy and art supplies, along with an unloaded and disarmed air pistol. The boys then ranked the objects according to how much they wanted to play with them. When the boys returned a week later, they were left alone with the objects while the researcher left the room for a short while. Boys who had ranked the gun as their least favorite plaything were warned not to touch one of other objects, while boys who had shown at least some preference for the gun were warned not to touch it. Through a two-way mirror, Hardy and her colleagues watched the boys to see if they would touch the gun or other forbidden object. Many of those who were not warned against the gun still touched or played with it when they were alone, although all but three of the boys denied touching it when the researcher returned to the room. None of the boys touched any other forbidden items after the researcher warned against them. According to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 3,385 children and teens were killed by gunfire in 1999. :assult:

10-26-2003, 12:14 AM	#5
7mmag6 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 337 Images: 1	Notice how they lump gun violence and substance abuse __________________ This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine

10-26-2003, 11:07 AM	#6
pmspinnerb8 Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lonestar State Posts: 286	I remember there were always guns around when I was growing up, I never had the allure to mess with them, because they were no big deal. My dad taught me from an early age and went went shooting as often as we could. There was 0% mystery in them for me. I think a lot of these parents sit there and say no touch, but then don't take the time to teach the kids and take away their curiosity. __________________ Two in the chest and one in the head and even the Green Giant falls down dead.

10-27-2003, 07:20 AM	#8
dhermesc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: East Central Kansas Posts: 1,762	I go with pmspinnerb8 on this one. The press and anti's make guns out to be mystic objects that can dispense evil with their mere presence. Can you think of anything that would arouse a young boy's curiosity more (except sex)? Making them common removes the mystic. __________________ Liberty is for those that claim it.

10-25-2003, 09:09 PM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,807	i wonder how many were killed in car accidents?

10-26-2003, 11:56 AM	#7
Hugh Damright Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Meadows of Dan, Virginia Posts: 39	I suppose that social engineering will have reached a milestone when boys can go into a room with a barbie doll, a tea party set, and a toy gun, and play with the dolls and have a tea party.