Semiotics

Table 1. Causal Representations of the Problem of Israeli School Violence

YOUTH

as Causal

Source

PEERS

as Causal

Source

FAMILY

as Causal Source

SCHOOL

as Causal Source

OTHER INSTITUTIONS

as Causal Source

SOCIETAL PROBLEMS

as Causal Source

of Causal
Influences
on
YOUTH
And
PEERS

• 
  
  
  
  1. Violence
     is a ̳cool‘
     norm
     among
     youths
     2. Set violent,
     aggressive example
     3. Teach to live to
     survive and expect
     worst from others
     4. Lack of maternal
     warmth and parental
     presence
     5. Parent-child
     alienation
     6. School too strict
     7. School too permissive
     8. System tolerates early
     norm of aggression and
     violence
     9. Allows the good kids
     to be bullied
     10. Children are
     alienated from school
     system
     11. Children are alienated
     from larger societal
     institutions
     12. Violence learned via
     television, internet and
     videogames
     13. Mass media coverage
     makes violence ̳real‘ and
     thus a norm to live up to
     29. No clear limits or moral
     boundaries
     30. Corruption /loss of faith
     in society
     31. Lack of respect for
     others
     32. Weakening of respect
     for law and order
     33. No respect for
     individual rights
     34. Violence a societal-
     wide norm/value
     35. Outdated ̳macho‘
     values rule
     36. General agitated
     psychological state of the
     Israeli
  
  
  
  

of Causal
Influences
on
PARENTS

14. Students
    enlist parents
    against school
    authority
    
    
    • 
      
      
      
      • 
        
      
      
      
      
      
      
      15. Parents alienated
          from larger school
          system
      
      
      16. Economy puts pressures
          on family structure
      
      
      17. Mass media robs
          parents of control
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    

of Causal
Influences
on
SCHOOLS

18.

Teachers

fear

students

19. Teachers fear
    parents


20. Parents join with
    their children in
    opposing school
    decisions
    21. Schools are
    mismanaged generally
    22. Government understaffs
    school system
    23. Government doesn‘t
    back school system policy
    24. Government is too
    corrupt to help schools
    of Causal
    Influences
    on
    INSTITU-
    TIONS

25. Parents allow
    television to substitute
    for parenting


26. Schools politicize
    process of getting help
    from government


27. Economy limits
    government‘s ability to
    help


28. Government is corrupt