The Negative Impact of Exposing Children to Media Violence

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The Negative Impact of Exposing Children to Media Violence

On April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School, 13 people were killed and another 23 were wounded in one of the worst school killing incidents ever (Skeesis). Since the 1980's, overall homicide rates in the U.S. have declined. However, homicide rates for ages 14-17 have increased quite dramatically during this time period (Fox). Among other numerous potential causes, violence in the media may play a role in this increase in youth violence. Today, there is much controversy over the potential harmful effects of media violence on childrenís lives. I believe that exposure of children to media violence is harmful.

For the purposes of this paper, I will limit the definition of (mass) media to television, and, subsequently, violent (mass) media to television programs that contain violent acts. By children, I will be referring to people of age 18 and below who live in the U.S., since this group is the focus of the majority of the research data that I have used. I will begin my argument by acknowledging a counter argument to my position. I will then go on to discuss the negative effects of television on children. These effects include an increase in aggressive tendencies and an instilling of the idea that violence will go unpunished. Also included are the concepts of desensitization and stimulus addiction. Finally, I will discuss some potential solutions to the problem of television violence affecting our children.

Granted, people are correct in saying that television violence has been around for decades. In fact, public violence has been around for centuries. In ancient times, many cultures made gruesome public executions or sacrifices. During the Middle Ages, entire villag...

... middle of paper ...

...per impact than you realize. And what respectable parents would want their child to end up reenacting a scene from HBOís Oz on his or her classmates?

Works Cited

American Psychiatric Association. "Psychiatric Effects of Media Violence." http://www.psych.org/psych/htdocs/public_info/media_violence.html (17 Oct. 2000).

Berkebile, Nicole, Julie Newman, and Susan Parker. "The Effects of Television on a Childís Development." 1995. http://www.richmond.edu/~psych/tvmain.html (17 Oct. 2000).

Fox, James A. "Trends in Juvenile Violence: 1997 Update." 1997. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/tjv97up.pdf (17 Oct. 2000).

Skeesis. "The Tragedy at Columbine High." 17 May 1999. http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/coroner/columbin.html (17 Oct. 2000).

"Video Game Violence." Feb. 2000. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/champaign/connections/0002-family4.html (17 Oct. 2000).

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