Brett and his gang are represented in the media and psychological theories in several ways: 1) They exhibit behaviors associated with stormy adolescence such as mood swings, risky behavior, and rejection of responsibility. 2) The media often demonizes youth and the gang instills fear in the young couple they encounter. 3) Psychological theories suggest they feel alienated and are let down by a lack of guidance from adults and the education system.

1. Research on Brett from Eden Lake
1) Youth are often represented in accordance with popular notions of adolesence
a) ‗A period of ‗storm and stress‘ characterised by intergenerational conflicts, mood swings and an
enthusiasm for risky behaviour.‘
G. Stanley Hall (1906)
mood swings - Beats up guy savagely after he is challanged
risky behaviour - Carrying knives, taunting them whilst walking past at the beach.
b) ‗Adolescence is conflict between identity and ‗role confusion‘. Resolving this conflict involves
finding a settled role in life. If unsuccessful this results in ‗maladaption‘ in the form of fanaticism or
the rejection of adult responsibility.‘ Erik Erikson (1968)
role confusion - Brett constantyly gets challanged
maladaption - mad killings
rejection of adult responsibility - dont care about what the do
c) Adolescence is a critical period of identity formation in which individuals over uncertainty, become
more self-aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Erik Erikson (1968)
self aware of their strength and weaknesses - young, more of them, can get away with anything
e) Continuing ‗confusion‘ about one‘s identity is a mark of incomplete development and may result in
deviant or antisocial behaviour. Erik Erikson (1968)
antisocial behaviour - drinking, smoking, making loud noises.
d) Adolescence is primarily a state of transition, a matter of becoming rather than being.
state of transition - Brett taking adult roll of being in charge
2. Youth are often ‘demonised’ the mass media.
a) ‗We found some news coverage where teen boys were described in glowing terms – 'model student',
'angel', 'altar boy' or 'every mother's perfect son', but sadly these were reserved for teenage boys who
met a violent and untimely death."
‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’
violent and untimely death - caused by the gang lead by brett.
b) ‗the true horrors we fear day to day are not supernatural bogeymen or monsters created by scientists.
They're our own youth.
Daily Mail
They're our own youth - feared by the young couple
c) ‗I was reminded of something that the late Alexander Walker, film critic of the London Evening
Standard, once wrote about Kubrick's Clockwork Orange: we hate and fear our children - because
they are going to kill us.’ Peter Bradshaw- Guardian
we hate and fear our children - because they are going to kill us.’ - couple fear for life after car is
stolen and find the in the forrest.
3. Youth are represented as being let down by adults
a) ‗Parents aren't always around to help socialize their children — or even just to show them affection.
Compared to other cultures, British kids are less integrated into the adult world and spend more time
with peers. Britains Mean Streets, Time Magazine
socialize their children - feral, doing as they wish.
pend more time with peers - the group.
b) ―Young people want to make healthy and informed decisions… but until now, too many have been
let down by the education system. ― Katrina Mather, 16, Member of Youth Parliament
4. Youth are represented as part of a subculture
a) ‗Recent research has pointed to the dangers of romanticising youthful resistance and the tendency to
overstate the the political dimensions of youth culture‘
David Buckingham, Introducing Identity
dangers of romanticising youthful resistance - end up getting killed after resisting gang
b) ‗Youth reappropriate artefact which creates group identity and promotes mutual recognition by
members.‘ Jonathan Epstein
group identity - gang wear same clothes
mutual recognition - every one follows brett so must have the same views as him
5. Alienation – youth are represented as being estranged from parts of society
b) ―The Youth are prohibited from speaking as moral and political agents, youth become an empty
category inhabited by the desires, fantasies and interest of the adult world.‖ Jonathan Epstein
desires, fantasies - killing the couple and being in control of the forrest

2. c) ‗Adolescence is a growth period conducive to alienation due the ‗betwixt & between‘ nature of the
this particular position in lifecourse.‘
Calabrese
6. Youth are product of the society they were born into, and often embody the faults and fears of
adult society.
product of the society they were born into - Brett is just like his dad who is in control of the group.