Media Violence

Violence has been a contributing negative factor to society throughout history. Many

researchers believe that the use of violent media, particularly video games, play a huge role in

the downward trend of behavior and attitude of youth, and that this behavior continues to

spiral out of control. However, other researchers believe that since violence has been occurring

since the beginning of time, that adolescence are as capable today of violence, as they were

a thousand years ago. Research has been found to link violent maladaptive behavior to the

use of video games, but other researchers believe that the outcome is inconsistent to the findings,

since the results are often skewed. Meta-analysis have statistically proven that violent video

games have a negative effect on the behavioral outcome of youth, but due to the combining

of meta-analysis, results tend to be distorted and the findings communicate a more vigorous

outcome. Television, computers and movies are another source of media violence available to

adolescence. They can be just as harmful if not more damaging than video games, especially if

the user already has a tendency to be violent and/or is raised in an atmosphere that is conducive

to violence and other risk factors are present as well. Violence will continue to be a prominent

part of our society. Nevertheless with newer and enhanced technology, we may eventually

develop advanced research which may prove beyond reason the culprit of our tendencies for

violence and the real motivations for violent behavior.

At risk youth include those adolescence that are from lowered economic settings,

are poorly educated, exposed to violence early on, physically and mentally abused, have easy

acces...

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...mes, can all be the catalyst for youth

violence, but little research has proven it to be the only cause. Violence has always been a part of

our history. With the increased technology that we now have, we are now seeing and hearing

more violence than ever before, but it has always been there. Meta-analysis has left research

results skewed, due to the fact that research is combined and the comparisons can be irrelevant to

the research, the “studies of studies”. Youth whom are already at risk for crime have a better

chance of acting out from the violence they have witnessed in the media, than children who are

well grounded. Violence will always be a part of society. Nevertheless with increased technology

and better research, we may be able to more accurately pinpoint its origin and guide our youth in

a different, more positive direction.