Television and Media Violence - Is Aggressive Behavior...

Is Aggressive Behavior Linked to Television Violence? According the Centerwall (1992), the average child aged 2-5 in 1990 watched 27 hours of television per day, or almost 4 hours per day. When much of what is on television, including cartoons and television shows targeted at children, contains violence, it becomes important to know whether watching televised violence can lead to or increase aggressive behavior. Social learning theory tells us that children model their behavior after those they see. It is reasonable, then, to infer that watching violence on television will lead to behaving violently, due to the modeling effect. The present study reviews some relevant prior research, and then investigates†¦show more content†¦Centerwall found that in between 1945 and 1975, the homicide rate in the US increased by 93%, while in Canada, the homicide rate increased by 92% after the introduction of television. In South Africa, however, the homicide rate decreased by 7%. In case we might think that South Africa is just a less violent country than the US or Canada, Centerwall included the homicide rates for the three countries in 1987. In the US and Canada, no significant changes were noted, Homicides per 100,000 1945 1974 % Change 1987 % Change United States 3 5.8 +93 5.4 n.s Canada 1.3 2.5 +92 2.2 n.s South Africa 2.7 2.5 -7 5.8 +130 Page 3 showing that the homicide rate had reached a plateau, at a rate that was nearly twice the pre- television rate. In the fifteen years after South Africa received television, between 1975 and 1987, the homicide rate increased by 130%. This is convincing evidence that television had an impact on the homicide rates in the US and Canada, doubling the rate in 30 years, and more than doubling the homicide rate in South Africa in only 15 years. Centerwall notes that there was a delay of about 10-15 years between the introduction of television in each country and the increase in homicide rates. He suggests thatShow MoreRelated Is Media Violence To Blame? Essay528 Words   |  3 Pages Is Media Violence To Blame? Today, there is more violence on TV, in video games and in music than ever before. Many times, media violence is linked with kids and teenagers committing violent acts. This is an attempt by parents and critics to eliminate violence in the media. Although, many think media violence is a cause of violence among children, they should be looking at what else causes violence. Many people believe media violence is not good and that it makes kids aggressive. Laboratory studiesRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System: Media Violence and Social Justice724 Words   |  3 Pagesadults who are exposed to the media are aggressive and violent. According to such articles, violent content provokes aggressive behavior and violence. Ferguson illustrates that watching satanic content, like in Harry Potter, or teaching of witchcraft can lead to Satanism or mental illness. According to Ferguson (2008), books, rock, jazz, television and watching movies in the media, leads to a wave of moral degradation, rebelliousness and violence. They also clam that new media like internet and video gamesRead MoreChildren Aggression From Violent Television Essay1692 Words   |  7 PagesAggression From Violent Television Page Break Over the years, researchers have studied the effects that television has had on children. When†¯children are taught†¯to†¯tie their shoes, it is because their parents taught them. When children are taught to ride their bikes, it is because someone showed them. In many instances, children learn†¯by watching and observing things they see others do.†¯This leads researchers to believe that violent television in terms, makes children more aggressive. According toRead MoreThe Effects Of Media Violence On People1388 Words   |  6 Pagesof Media Violence on People Media violence impacts the physical aggression of human beings. It is one of the many potential factors that influence the risk for violence and aggression. Research has proven that aggression in children will cause the likelihood of aggression in their adulthood. Theories have evolved that the violence present in the media most likely teaches the viewer to be more violent. It is a risky behavior that is established from the childhood. Furthermore, media violence is aRead MoreTelevised Violence causes Aggression in Young Boys1555 Words   |  7 PagesTelevised Violence causes Aggression in Young Boys Young boys are evidently influenced by things in their environment such as media, peers, and family. Elementary school aged boys are influenced easily because these are critical years in developing their sense of individuality and social skills with their peers. The vulnerably of young boys are a reason why they are a target of the popular culture of displaying television violence because they have rarely encountered it in previous years so theyRead MoreWhat Is the Effect of Media Violence on Children1314 Words   |  6 PagesAbdelaziz Ms. Williams English 1010-18 13, December 2010 The Effect of Media Violence on Children Although very little research was done on it in the past, media violence has sparked much controversy in recent history. As technology becomes more advanced, new methods of uncovering the media’s effects on children have emerged. Advances in Neuroscience, for example, can become tools to understanding the effects media violence has from a psychological standpoint. The brain in its underpinnings fromRead MoreThe Effects of Television Violence on Children Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pages Thesis Statement: Unsupervised children who watch violence on television exhibit violence in their everyday lives and develop into aggressive adults. â€Å"Research shows that television violence increases levels of aggression, fear, and desensitization among some who consume it† (Hamilton). This quotation by James Hamilton briefly summarizes the potentially negative effects of television on young minds. A child’s favorite television show can keep a child occupied while the mother preparesRead More The Effects Television Violence Has on Children Essay774 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects Television Violence Has on Children Television has both positive and negative effects on children between the ages of two and five. Some research shows that violence in the media can be linked to aggressive behavior in children. Though, some researchers disagree with this statement and believe that there are other factors, besides television, which cause children to become violent. The following essay will reflect both sides of this argument. Violent television shows leadRead MoreVisual Media s Influence On Society1661 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans through the media. Americans can get this information from print, audio, visual, and online. For eight to eighteen year olds, media in some form or fashion normally takes up seven and a half hours of each day. Of those seven and a half hours, most is spent in front of the television. Along with watching TV, video games and use of computers consume an hour for each (Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders). Even though there are many contributing factors, visual mass media has a negative influenceRead MoreEssay on Child Development1286 Words   |  6 Pagesand robin figures. Today’s culture views the media as a necessity. One class of media entertainment is television. Television is often exchanged for play among children. Marie Winn wrote â€Å"The End of Play† commenting on how children have replaced â€Å"fantasy and make-believe games† for television. (Winn 76) A research study in USA Today showed results of a survey indicating â€Å"14% of parents said TV is always on.†(Par 4) Their findings point out â€Å"TV decreased play’s intensity to given toy†. (Par