“Feeling like Rapunzel, you know?”: A narrative inquiry of youth, boredom, and deviance

Abstract

In a late modern society, the presence of placelessness and meaninglessness can be overwhelming to individuals, especially youth. Jock Young’s theory of human behavior suggests that individuals engage in crime to rid themselves of boredom. Understanding the role that boredom plays in criminal offending is important, as it can help uncover how youth choose to spend their time and who they spend their time with. By using a narrative storytelling approach of inquiry, this thesis focuses on the lived experiences of youth collected by virtual interviews with 16 university students. An emphasis for this research is placed on how youth recall, examine, and reflect on their lived experiences with boredom, leisure time, and their environment. Findings from this research suggest that boredom is common among youth and can lead to various behavioural outcomes.