Violence and the Media

In this essay, the author

• Compares the level of violence during saturday morning cartoons with that during prime time. children will witness up to 8,000 murders and 100,000 violent acts before grade school.
• Explains that children spend more time learning about life through media than in any other manner. the average child spends approximately twenty-seven hours per week watching television.
• Explains that repeated exposure of young children and adolescents can negatively affect children's behavior. this can be acted out by imitation of violent acts observed on television, by accepting violence as a way to solve problems, and by desensitization to the amount of violence seen on tv.
• Explains that children between the ages of one to four cannot always distinguish reality from fantasy. television programs are often fantasy, yet their favorite character does not exist in the real world.
• Explains that young children imitate actions without possessing the intellect or maturity to determine if such actions are appropriate. televisions' role-model capacity to promote real world violence causes children to become more aggressive.
• Suggests that young children will imitate violent acts seen on television and model themselves to the character they like, if the perpetrator of the violence is rewarded or at least not punished.
• Explains that children may be more aggressive toward other children or even their parents, in order to get what they want. in most violent programs, the aggressor is often rewarded for his or her violent and aggressive behavior towards others.
• Explains that the most telling example of children's aggression can be seen after children see an advertisement on a desirable toy.
• Explains that children generally do not understand that advertised toys or other products cost money, and many of which may be well over family budget. if children learn from violent television programs that aggressive behavior may get them what they want, they will try to make their parents buy them a desirable toy.
• Explains that children are exposed to enormous amounts of violence before they finish grade school, which can have a negative effect on their behavior as children and adults. leonard eron followed children from eight years of age into their adulthood.
• Explains that aggressive children prefer watching violent programs on television because aggressive behavior leads to peer rejection.
• Explains that children may not watch violent television programs for violence, but for the action that is portrayed in most violent programs. however, not many studies have been conducted in this manner.
• Explains that children who are exposed to violent television programs may become emotionally "desensitized" or less sensitive to real life violence.
• Analyzes how violent television programs portray racial minorities as less powerful and poorer than the majority.
• Explains that repeated viewing of violent television programs can lead to "a mean world syndrome," a belief that violence is more salient and frequent on television than it is in most life experiences.
• Explains that although there are behavioral problems with children who watch excessive amounts of violence, television programs can also have a positive effect on children of all ages.
• Explains that children learn how to behave from what they see on television, and the impact of television violence may be evident immediately or it may surface later in life. parents should pay attention to the programs their children are watching and they should also watch with them.
• Recommends that parents set limits on the amount of time they spend watching television and challenge television's power with other alternatives, such as reading or playing with friends.
• Recommends that parents disapprove of violent programs in front of their children, stressing the belief that such behavior is not the best way to solve a problem.
• Argues that parents should demand the installation of a device called the v-chip into every television set.
• Argues that parents should demand critical thinking be taught in all schools to encourage children to watch critically and thoughtfully.
• Concludes that extensive viewing of violent television by children has the potential to cause greater aggressiveness. parents and teachers should take measures to prevent harmful effects their children are susceptible to television violence, such as aggression, racial and sexual stereotyping.
• Cites abbot, william, carol wekesser, bee, helen, and buckingham, david.
• Cites petley's book, why wewatch: the attractions of violent entertainment, and greenfield, patricia.
• Cites sut jhally's "killing screens: media and the culture of violence".
• Cites rosengren, karl, ulla johnsson-smaragdi, and inga sonesson. "for better and forworse: effects studies and beyond."