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... f motor reproduction would to be able to learn how to ski or ride a bike. Once a behavior is learned through attention and retention, the observer must posses the physically capabilities to produce the aggressive act. The final process in observational learning are Reinforcements. In this process, the observer expects to receive positive reinforcements for the modeled behavior.
For example, most children witnessed violence on television being rewarded by the media. When individuals, especially children witness this type of media, they attend, code, retrieve, posses the motor capabilities and perform the modeled behavior because of the positive reinforcements determined by the media (Bandura, 1977). According to Bandura, the highest level of observational learning is achieved by first organizing and rehearsing the modeled behavior symbolically and then enacting it out. Also, individuals are more likely to adopt a modeled behavior if it results in outcomes they value, and even more likely, if the model is similar to the observer and has admired status and the behavior has functional value (Bandura, 1977).
Bandura strongly believed television was a source of behavior modeling. Bandura has shown that both children and adults acquire attitudes, emotional responses, and new styles of conduct through filmed and televised modeling (Bandura, 1977, p. 39). Today, films and television shows illustrate violence graphically. Violence is often expressed as an acceptable behavior, especially for heroes who have never been punished. Albert Bandura believed aggression reinforced by family members was the most prominent source of behavior modeling.
Bandura, in his studies, states that children use the same aggressive tactics that their parents illustrate when dealing with others (Bandura, 1977). The social learning theory states that individuals, especially children, imitate or copy modeled behavior by personally observing others, the environment, and the mass media completely ignores an individuals biological state. Also, the social learning theory rejects differences formed in individuals that are due to genetic, brain, and learning differences. For example, if a child witnessed a crime or a murder, he or she might respond in a variety of ways. Biological psychologists believe that the responses would be normal and they come from the autonomic nervous system. In addition, the social learning theory rejects the classical and operant conditioning processes.
In the world today, media violence is a big problem. It might often times go unnoticed, but it's there. When children watch television, they are probably witnessing some form of violence. Because television violence is produced in such an action packed form they see through the negativity of it. Also, television teaches children that they can solve their problems by using violence.
In many television shows aimed towards children, such as the Power Rangers, they portray the good characters having to resort to violence in able to defeat the bad characters. Children view the Power Rangers as heroes, saving the world from aliens and other bad guys. Children who watch this show may presume that the Power Rangers use violence to prevent bad things, why can they not use it to prevent problems in everyday life. Looney Tunes is another good example. Falling off cliffs and shooting people is typical in one half-hour program.
A personal example of the influence television violence has on children occurred to me over the summer when I visited my girlfriend's younger cousin. As I walked into the house I was attacked and kicked in the leg by this 5 -year-old boy. I asked him what his reason was for kicking me and he told said that he was a Ninja defending the world from the Hagar's, and I was a Hagar. Television Violence Perceived by Children Television violence affects children's thoughts, actions, and the way they live. Rarely are the long-term consequences of violence portrayed on television. The results of real-life violence usually involve someone going to jail, the hospital, or even the grave.
Television violence is usually clean with little blood, pain, or suffering. On TV, it seems criminals go unpunished most of the time. This gives children the message that violence is a successful method of resolving conflicts. Also, it appears that half the time violent interactions on television depict no harm to the victims. Consequently, television teaches children that it is alright to hurt others as long as it is for the right reasons. Children perceive everything that happens on television as real.
Therefore, when violence is portrayed as heroic, children tend to imitate the action to gain heroic recognition. Several solutions might be taken to prevent such negative modeling to occur. One could be that television stations release a special broadcast before and after a show stating the non-reality of the show. Another solution television could use is to remind children there are alternatives to deal with problems, such as compromising. A final solution could be a special program implemented in schools that teaches children about media violence.
None of these solutions will eliminate media violence, but it might educate children, as well as parents, in the false perception of television In conclusion, there have been many debates over whether or not violence on television causes aggressive behavior in children. For instances some studies show that children view cartoons such as Elmer Find shooting the rabbit as funny and humorous and it is the parents responsibility to inform their children that the cartoons are not real. It appears television is a form of education and positive role models. If violence in television and film cause people to be more violent, then shouldnt the good formed in television result in an audience that is pleasant? Despite the criticisms, Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory should be seen as important in the study and influences of aggression and criminal behavior formed in this. In order to control aggression, Bandura believed family members and the mass media should provide positive role models for their children and the general public (Bandura, 1977).
I believe that aggression modeled by children from watching television could be curbed when more of the influential adults in children's lives are involved. Caring parents and the community would increase its effectiveness because it is at home that children watch the majority of television. Personally, I feel that the adults are to be given the majority of the blame for what is happening to our children today as a result of this media craze. As an adult, it is our duty to protect those who are unable to protect themselves.
This goes for children that our directly related to us, and those children whom are not. The reason violence is so prevalent in television is because it is a good tool to attract viewers. No government regulations are powerful enough to completely eliminate acts of violence from television. What these parents and other concerned adults should do is channel that energy into areas, such as commercials and school programming, that will help educate children in understanding that what they see is not always reality or the right way of doing things. However, in order for this to effectively work, the parents of today also need to be equally educated. Bandura, A. 1973.
Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Bandura, A. 1977. Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Cantor, J. , and Wilson, B.
J. 1984. Modifying fear responses to mass media in preschool and elementary school children. Journal of Broadcasting, Chen, M. (1994). The Smart Parent's Guide to Kids' TV.
San Francisco: KQED Books. Dietz, W. H. , and Strasburger, V. C. 1991. Children, adolescents, and television. Murray, J.
P. (1997). Impact of Televised Violence. March 7, 1997. Rosenthal, R. 1986. Media Violence, Antisocial Behaviour, and The Social Consequences of Small Effects. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Social Learning Theory And Tv Violence
