SLOBODNO VRIJEME I MLADI U RIZIKU – OVISNOSTI
FREE TIME AND THE YOUNG AT ADDICTION RISK

Summary/Abstract: This paper deals with a socially and pedagogically relevant and topical phenomenon of unproductive or delinquent behaviour of the young in their free time. The world is becoming a risky place for growing up; the young with divergences in behaviour, those who do not know their way around, or those who are deviant, are called the young at risk. The young at risk were analysed in the context of leisure. Spare time of the young is a challenge of growing up inherited by the leisure framework in the modern society. Spare time appears as a consequence of constant shortening of the working hours in the modern industrial society. The predominant role of leisure is entertainment and pastime. The young today are primarily hedonistically motivated – associating, getting to know their peers, pastime, sex, love, travelling and others. In spending their spare time among the young prevails the urban cultural pattern (going out to cafes and disco clubs, associating, parties, idling and going to concerts). The term “young” relates to the persons from the age of eleven up to maturity. This developmental period is called adolescence. Deviance is a risk behaviour that to a certain measure departs from the norms accepted by the majority of members of a group or society. Various theories are trying to explain the causes of the risk behaviour, that is of deviance, of the young: biological, psychological and sociological theories. The types of deviant behaviour of the young in their spare time may be classified into several groups, one of the most important being addiction: alcoholism, misuse of drugs, gambling, computer addictions (Internet video games), then violent behaviour – violent behaviour among peers, violence in underage relationships, juvenile delinquency. Adults, especially social institutions are expected to actively face this problem and to prevent the spreading of addict behaviour of the young in their spare time.

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