Violent Media Effects on Children

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The impact of violent media on young children’s minds is always something psychologists wondered about, but in the past few years the wonder has changed into worry about the effects of violent media on a child’s brain. The issue in question is how violent media affects a young child. Children are very susceptible to what they see and hear, so the idea of violent media harmfully effecting children is not farfetched. Violent media can have children fearing the world around them. Violent media can also lead children to have a lack of sensitivity toward others who are in pain. However the most common and well known effect of violent media on children is the increased aggression and harmful behavior toward themselves and others.
Younger children who are exposed to violent television shows or movies can often become confused and end up fearing the world around them. “Before age 4, children are unable to distinguish between fact and fantasy and may view violence as an ordinary occurrence” (Beresin, Eugene). When children are age four and younger are exposed to violence in the media it is the same as if they witnessed it in real life. This leads to young children fearing the world that they have to live in for unknown or irrational reasons to adults. The exposure of violent media to children is not as easily prevented as one might think. “Children’s programming, particularly cartoons, display up to 20 violent acts hourly” (Beresin, Eugene). Even watching cartoons children are getting exposed to violent behavior that, to them, directly translates to the real world. The violent media has the effect of confusion on children and directly effects how safe they feel, no matter where they are. The media will bring violence anywhere in the w...

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...tly affects they ways that children think it is acceptable to behave. The aggression, lack of sympathy toward others in pain, and fear of the world, is why there should be more restrictions on violence in the media.

Works Cited

Beresin, Eugene V. "The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions." The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions. 2013. American Academy of child & adolescent psychiatry. 17 Nov. 2013 .
"Violence in the Media." Http://www.apa.org. Nov. 2013. American Psychological Association. 17 Nov. 2013 .

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