Media Violence Affecting Children

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For many years people have argued weather or not media violence is to blame for aggressive behavior in children. Sadly, throughout the years, television has become our generation’s primary teacher. Many television programs don’t teach children how to deal with everyday life or teach moral values. Many children’s programs such as “Looney Toons” portray acts of violence that many people overlook. An example of this is when Elmer Fudd pulls out his gun to shoot “that pesky little rabbit” known as Buggs Bunny. Psychologist, Albert Bandura, conducted an experiment demonstrating that social media does in fact have an impact on children’s behavior. However, no experiment goes without a critic. One of Bandura’s most famous critics name is Patrick Cooke. Cooke argued that, "Children cannot distinguish between what is allegory and what isn't, and opinions formed at that age are difficult to change." He also stated that Bandura’s experiment did not observe long term behavior. Therefore, failing to prove that media violence is to blame for belligerent actions in children. With that being said, I agree with Bandura.
First, let’s take a look at the famous Bandura Experiment. Fifty years ago a Psychologist by the name of Albert Bandura conducted an experiment to prove his theory that children learn through their observations. Bandura used 72 children between the ages of three to five years old. He used one male and one female model as demonstrators. Bandura used twenty-four of the children to watch one of the models as they behaved aggressively towards the “bobo doll”. The adults attacked the doll with objects such as dart-gun and mallets and even went as far as kicking the doll or throwing it in the air. He then took twenty-four different ...

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.... Studies show that people, especially children, are more likely to repeat behaviors they are rewarded for. So, help shape your children into kind, loving people by rewarding non-aggressive behaviors and teaching alternatives to aggressive behaviors.
In conclusion, Bandura might not have been 100% accurate in saying that media violence is to blame for aggressive behaviors but he was very accurate in saying that children learn through observation. Most all children search for a role model in life. If you ask a young child what he or she wants to be when they grow up you will probably get an answer like “a super hero” or “batman” or even “a power ranger”. Studies have proven that children are not born violent. Violence is a taught or learned behavior. Once a child sees violent acts exposed time and time again, the child begins view violence as an acceptable action.

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