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What has the world come to these days? It often seems like everywhere we look, violence rears its ugly head. We see it in the streets, back alleys, schools, and even at home. In the light of the Littleton, Colorado Columbine High shootings, the debate has grown over how media influences children and adolescents. There are many statistics that undeniably support the theory that media causes violence in young children. The entertainment industry insists that their publications (including TV, magazines, Internet, etc. ) are legal, guaranteed under the First Amendment.
So, who takes responsibility for the crimes committed by juveniles. Is it the entertainment industry (for displaying conscious violence), the government (for lack of regulation), or the parents (for lack of control? ). This paper will explore each in an unbiased view. The Evidence America, the nation with the highest homicide rate in the developed world, has seen violence soar to epidemic levels over the past several decades.
During this time there has been passionate and ongoing debate about whether there is a causal relationship between media violence and aggression in society. Contrary to some claims, the medical, public health, and scientific communities are in agreement that such a relationship exists. Extensive reviews of more than forty years of scientific studies have led researchers to conclude that the media significantly contributes to the aggressive behavior and attitudes of children, adolescents and adults. (Donnerstein, 1993) In fact, the 1982 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports, supporting the Surgeon Generals landmark 1972 conclusions, stated that, In magnitude television violence is as strongly correlated with aggressive behavior as any other behavioral variable that has been measured. (National, 1982) In 1985, the APA endorsed the Surgeon General and NIMH conclusions that televised violence has a causal effect on aggressive behavior. The APA joined other professional groups such as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child Psychiatry. (Donnerstein, Slaby, and Eron, 1993) A 1990 report following a major conference, Television and Teen: Health Implications, concluded that media violence can teach adolescents violent behavior as well as create and maintain societal attitudes that condone violence. Constant exposure to these depictions can also lead to emotional desensitization toward violence (Hoberman, 1990) The television is a major source of violence.
In many peoples living rooms there sits an outlet for violence that often goes unnoticed. It is the television, and the children who view it are often pulled into its realistic world of violent scenes with sometimes devastating results. John Langone has often called the television an intrusion into a childs learning process, substituting easy pictures for the discipline of reading. He also believed that television will essentially turn children into lumps of coal or hypnotized non-thinkers who are just after the flashy pictures without any real intake. (Langone, 1984) The truth about television violence and children has been shown.
In a speech before the U. S. Senate, Leonard Eron, one of the countrys foremost authorities on media and children, said: There can no longer be any doubt that heavy exposure to televised violence is one of the causes of aggressive behavior, crime and violence in society. The evidence comes from both the laboratory and real-life studies. Television violence affects youngsters of all ages, of both genders, at all socioeconomic levels and all levels of intelligence. The effect is not limited to children who are already disposed to being aggressive and is not restricted to this country. (Eron, L.
D. , 1992) There is a general consensus in the scientific and public health fields that there are three primary harmful effects of viewing media violence. 1) Learning aggressive attitudes and behaviors. 2) Emotional desensitization toward real world violence. 3) Increased fear of being victimized by violence, resulting in self-protective behaviors and mistrust of others. (Violence, 1996) Modern media causes people to fear. It causes fear among those who do not understand the impact of media on peoples lives. (Valverde, 1995) In a study done in Israel, researchers tested 74 children from farms and 112 school children from the city of Tel Aviv. The researchers found that the city children watched far more television than that of their farmland counterparts. However, both groups of children were just as likely to choose a violent program to watch when watching television.
Likewise, the city boys identified most with characters from violent programs than those living on the farm. (Husemann, 1985) The facts are undeniable. The studies have been carried out and all the results point to one conclusion: Television violence causes children to be violent and the effects can be lifelong. There is also evidence that shows when parents or guardians are actively involved with what their children watch, the content of what they choose improves. In a study done over a two-year period by several researchers, satisfying results were found when studying the effects of television on children. (Desmond, 1990) Responsibility Evidence has clearly shown that violence on television effects youth in adverse ways.
So, who takes responsibility for childrens violence. Should the government take responsibility for lack of rating control? Should we allow the government to control what is seen on TV? Is it the fault of the entertainment industry for showing conscious violence on televison when young impressionable minds are viewing? Is it the fault of the parent for lacking control? Should the parent have to monitor each show?
There are valid arguments supporting and contradicting each perspective. Parents? It can be said that the most important way to prevent children from watching television violence is to stop it where it starts. The parents could step in and turn the set off when a negative or violent program comes on. The parents are the childs role models from which he learns. Children are great imitators, even in the earliest months of life.
Given that children are relentless in their imitation of people around them, it is logical to conclude that they would also imitate the actions of the people they see on television and in the movies. While imitation may be the earliest form of learning, no child becomes a carbon copy of the people around him / her . As for the effects of media violence on children, if imitation were the only, or even the primary form of learning, we could predict tomorrows headlines. (Levine, 1996) It is no longer enough to simply read and write. People must also become literate in the understanding of visual images. Our children must learn how to spot a stereotype, isolate a cliche, and distinguish facts and propaganda, analysis from banter, and important news from coverage. (Boyer) If he / she can learn at an early age that violence on television is bad, then he can turn the set off for himself when he / she is old enough. But who teaches children this information?
There are many debates about where education should start. Many people believe education should start at home. Americans should not rely on television as babysitters and should stop blaming them for the corruption of children. If parents look to themselves and their home environment for the problems children are facing and monitor their childrens viewing, the problem will be alleviated. (Bogart, 1995) Entertainment Industry?
Still others willfully believe that the entertainment industry must take the initiative to stop encouraging violence. The industry has glamorized guns, murders, and murderers. The NRA insists guns dont kill, people do. The entertainment industry insists television does not kill, people do, just as the last is true, so is this, except television often provides the ideas, the social sanction, and the instruction needed to commit the crime.
Many people believe that the media executives are hiding behind the First Amendment, to cash in on Americas need for entertainment. One executive is reported as acknowledging the excessive violence in his current film, and when asked if he let his own children watch, his answer was, absolutely not. (Levine, 1996) There is no doubt that television can encourage violence. However, there is doubt if the industry is responsible for the viewers. Government? The government tried to regulate the broadcast system in 1970, using activists such as Action for Childrens Television (ACT) and the FCC to protect the interests of children.
Under the presidency of Ronald Reagan, the protective attitude of networks changed rapidly. In 1984, the FCC ruled that it was time to treat networks as a business. From that point on, broadcasting became profit driven. Government has tried to intervene recently, but with little luck. The entertainment industry finds loopholes.
So, will total intervention from the government succeed? I guess we will never know unless its tried. Advantages of Television It is estimated that ninety-eight percent of all the people with televisions watch the television at least six hours every day. TV is the main source of up-to-date information on all types of subjects. A poll done for TV Guide showed that one in four Americans would keep their sets even if offered one million dollars. (TV Guide, 1992) There are plenty of evils flowing from your television screen, but there can also be some very educational and beneficial programs. Television is not a bad thing.
It can be used as a resource to educate and entertain people of all ages. Television can teach tolerance and cooperation. It can reduce prejudice and increase helping behavior. It can introduce children to different peoples, cultures, and ideas.
Programs such as Sesame Street, Mister Rogers; networks such as Nickelodeon, PBS, and Disney can educate, expand, and enrich the lives of its viewers. The media can be used to develop community, to reinforce the values of honesty and integrity, and to educate children to be citizens of the world. These benefits can only be utilized if we as Americans realize that it is the responsibility of all citizens, not just parents, government, or media to provide Americas children with a culturally healthy environment. My Suggestions Lets pull this nation together before its too late!
Parents, the media, businesses, corporations, government and special interest groups should all take responsibility! Why finger point, when all of the society is to blame? I believe the problems in America stems from our disregard for innocent life itself. America does not hold life to be sacred anymore.
Our children are confused. How can we tell them not to kill or harm each others when our laws allow the destruction of life? In my opinion the path to a better society is as follows 1) stop apologizing and psychoanalyzing and explaining away the behavior of the criminal element, and simply punish them! 2) Teach our children, in every day, little lessons, what it is to be a responsible citizen, a good person, and a respecter of humanity, and they will be less likely to become a member of the criminal element. 3) Lead by example. Be an inspiration to others through your intolerance of crime, stupidity, arrogance, and ill will toward humankind. In the words of Walt Disney, it is possible to educate entertainingly and entertain educationally.
Bibliography References Bogart, L. , (1995) Commercial Culture, Oxford University Press, New York. Boyer, E. , (Unknown) from National Tele media Council, Madison, WI Desmond, R. J. Singer, J. L. and Singer, D.
G. , (1990) Family Mediation: Parental Communication Patterns and the Influences of Television on Children, in J. Bryant ed. Television and the American Family. Donnerstein, ed, Ron Slaby and Leonard Eron, (1993) The Mass Media and Youth Aggression.
American Psychological Association. Eron, L. D. , (1992) Testimony before the Senate Committee of Government Affairs, Congressional Record, June 18, 1982. Hobermann, H. M. , (1990) Study Group Report on the Impact of Television Violence on Adolescents.
Journal of Adolescent Health Care Husemann, L. Rowell, (1985) Social Channels Tune TVs Effects September 14, 1985 Langone, John, (1984) Violence. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. Levine, Madeline, (1996) Viewing Violence. How Media Violence Affects Your Childs and Adolescents Development.
National Institute of Mental Health Television and Behavior: (1982) Ten Years of Scientific Progress and Implications for the Eighties (vol 1) Summary Report Valverde, Eduardo (Feb 1995) Media the Modern Scapegoat? UNESCO Courier, P 15 (1) Violence in Television Programming Overall: (1996) University of California, Santa Barbara, National Television Violence Study Scientific Papers Studio City, CA Media scope (1994 - 1995) TV Guide Poll (1992) 345
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Research essay sample on Violence On Television National Institute Of Mental Health
