Television and Media - TV Violence and Murdering Children

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Recommended: the influence of media violence on child behavior

Television Violence and Murdering Children

Today, children are translating the fiction from television shows into real acts of violence. "Television is becoming less and less an escape route into fantasy, it's becoming reality" (Palmer). Horrible murders, even by kids as young as age twelve, support Palmers' statement. Television may not be the soul cause of the terrible crimes, but there is proof that some of these unimaginable crimes are caused by violence seen on the television.

In our world today, television is a part of almost everyone's life. Researchers state that on the average, children in America today spend at least three to four hours watching television a day. That means that on the weekly average, a child could spend up to twenty-eight hours on the television. Therefore, the television shows children watch, definitely have major contributions in developing values and shaping their behavior. Because of the many violent shows that are on the television today, it isn't really a good thing that children are being taught by the television. Even though there are many good programs on the television, there is a majority of shows children love, that show them that "violence" is the way to go.

The main problems that people have found through hundreds of studies came to these four conclusions:

Children:

o Become "immune" to the horror of violence;

o Gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems;

o Imitate the violence they observe on television;

o Identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers (Int2, 1);

A researcher stated, "Extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness. Sometimes, watching a single violent program can increa...

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Int2: "Children & TV Violence" 1992

On-line. Internet. Available: http://www.psych.med.umich.edu/web/aacap/factsFam/violence.htm

Int3: "New study shows drop in television violence" 1996

On-line. Internet. Available: http://www.screen.com/mnet/eng/NEWS/NEWS/ucla2.htm

Int4: "Television Violence Report Card Act of 1993 (Introduced in the House)" 1993

On-line. Internet. Available: http://www.duke.edu/~cars/cill2.html

Int5: "TV Violence chip makes its debut!" 1998

On-line. Internet. Available: http://www.pathfinder.com/money/latest/press/PW/1998Mar13/273.html

Int6: "TV Violence Study Confirms Fears" 1996

On-line. Internet. Available: http://www.dove.org/dove/columns/1996/column9605.htm

Int7: Magee, Mary "On Television: The Violence Factor" 1984

On-line. Internet. Available: http://www.newsreel.org/films/violence.html

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