Violence in Mass Media

But research has shown that violent media also plays an important role in triggering violent behavior. Research has shown a strong correlation between at risk youth and violent behavior. Violent media surrounds children today from a multitude of mediums from television to video games. Prolonged exposure to violent media becomes a risk factor and can result in children becoming desensitized to violence. Overtime, violence becomes a fact of life and children lose their ability to sympathize with the victim.

The Corruption of Media Violence A discussion about whether media violence leads to actual violence is being passed around worldwide. It has been said that a combination betwixt peer pressure and media violence is a dynamic component of the complexity of violent behavior. From the information I gathered on the subject, I have come to a conclusion that media violence equates to actual behavior. One of the affects that media violence has on people is that it can alter innate senses, especially those of children. The author of the article entitled, “Violence in the Media-”, states that,” children become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others” (1).

Others say, and this is backed up with factual evidence, that violence that is seen on television, in the movies and in video games is directly linked to the violence in society. Either way, there is too much violence in the mass media and the outcome of this can in no way, shape or form be of a positive nature. Violence has become an ordinary way to be entertained, settle arguments, or blow off steam. Violence results when many different things come together, and we know that violence in the media is one of those things. Children spend more in a week time watching TV than doing anything else, other than sleeping.

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.

While violence is not new to the human race, it has proven to be an increasing epidemic in everyday society. Researches debate on what can be the trigger for violent outbreaks. Despite this popularity, violent media arouses much controversy as some believe violent media leads to aggression in children. These individuals also believe violent media can “lead to general increases in aggressiveness over time” says author Craig A. Anderson in his article “FAQs on Violent Video Games and Other Violent Media”. However, there is another side to this much-debated topic, and it is expressed eloquently by author Gerald Jones who wrote “Violent Media is Good for Kids.” Jones claims although violent media is a controversial issue this media can have more of a positive effect on children than a negative one.

This subject is debated because of the profound effect that violence can in the future of society. The introduction of television violence has led many to theorize that chronic exposure to the act will desensitize some teenagers and cause them to develop the characteristics of a more aggressive. Although the causes of violence are multifactor and include variables for individual biological vulnerability, psychiatric disorders, substance abuse and social conditions such as poverty, poor education, family psychopathology, and child abuse, research information quite interesting in showing that among the most important variable is the exposure adolescents to television violence are at much greater risk. Current research has confirmed the link between violence presented through a variety of media and aggressive behaviour. If young children also have ready access to firearms, then the likelihood of violent behaviour, for themselves and others, increased.

Many younger kids get their influence from television programs, such as violent cartoons, music videos, and movies. The content and language used in these media categories can cause a child or teen to use the same kind of language against another teen, an elder, and event their parent. This can result in a children using foul language against their own parent. Therefore, media shown during the day time should be censored to minimize the exposure young kids have to explicated co... ... middle of paper ... ...net availability and television shows watched. Censorship has a great deal to do with drugs, societal values, or violence.

"Television violence affects children of all ages, all socio-economic levels, and all levels of intelligence" (Eron 1992). Not only has the number of television shows increased, but also the amount of violence within television shows. Television can be a powerful influence in developing values systems, morals and also in shaping one's behavior. Unfortunately, much of today' s television programming is violent. Numerous studies indicating the effects of TV violence on children and teenagers have found that young people are becoming desensitized to the real world often learning aggressive behaviors by imitating the violence they observe on television, and sometimes identifying with certain characters, victims or victimizers.

Especially in teenage group this type of violence affect them and mostly time it leads to aggressive behavior. And some of the time media violence is main reason which involve teenager in criminal activities like domestic violence, harassment and street crime. (Strasburger;2004) states that media influence the people a lot, sometime in positive way and sometime in negative way. He further add that from past few years media is influence a people very much. People do the mostly things which they see on media.

There have been many concerns that as violent shows and movies go global, people spend more time watching than doing other activities (Media Violence). Whether people think that media violence affects young people in a bad way or not, many experts do. According to Professor Rowell Huesmann of the University of Michigan: "that exposure to media violence causes children to behave more aggressively and affects them as adults years later." (M L Enders)There are generally three types of media violence: television, movies and, video games, and I believe that these three types of media are responsible for the violence influence on children and teenagers to a certain extend. Violent programs on television lead to aggressive behavior in children and teenagers who watch those programs (Murray, J.P. & Lonnborg, B).