Since the late 1960s, researchers have been studying the relationship between media violence and aggressive behavior among children. With more child viewers watching programming created for adults, the violence portrayed on television can give children an unrealistic idea of physical harm. Statistics compiled by the Television Monitoring Violence Program show that 61 percent of television programs contain some violent content, yet few programs depict the realistic consequences stemming from violence.
Fear
Watching television and movie violence can give children the idea that this kind of behavior depicts real life, and sometimes children become fearful that they themselves will be victimized. The American Academy of Family Physicians calls attention to studies that show a link between children who are frequently exposed to media violence and symptoms of fear, anxiety, nightmares and depression. Newscasts depicting violence and natural disasters can frighten young children as well. Even older children may be frightened by the violence they see on the news, TV or in the movies. Although the effects of media violence are often short-lived, they can be long lasting.
Aggression
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry points out that young children often imitate aggressive behaviors they see on television when they play with others. Because children younger than age four cannot always distinguish what is real from what is fiction, they may not fully understand the implications of what they see. Violence on television that is used as a way to resolve conflict can cause young children to think this is the way life really is. Another problem is that heroes on television programs who resort to violence are actually rewarded for their behavior. These mixed messages may be confusing to children who are just learning the difference between right and wrong actions.
Desensitize
Findings of studies reviewed by the American Psychological Association's Commission on Violence and Youth and the National Institute of Mental Health show that children who view media violence on a regular basis can become emotionally desensitized to actual violence. This in turn may diminish a child's empathy for victims of violent traumas. According to the Encyclopedia of Death and Dying, after a comprehensive review of the literature, the U.S. Congress suggests that the violence portrayed in the media may have a negative impact on children. Given that the distinctions between imagination and what is real are not as obvious to younger children, they may not understand the pain and suffering that death causes the deceased's surviving family members and friends. Television action dramas often glamorize death while children's cartoons tend to trivialize it. Consequently, children do not always realize that death is permanent.
Risky Behaviors
Media entertainment sometimes makes risky behaviors look like fun. As a result, children may be more likely to imitate what they see on television or the movie screen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified violence as a type of risky behavior in which American adolescents engage. Research literature published by "The Future of Children," a collaboration of The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and The Brookings Institution, concludes that the media can have a significant impact on the health risk behavior of youths. In particular, there seems to be a strong correlation between media violence and aggression and violent behavior. However, not all the news is bad, as mass media content can also be a positive influence.
References
- National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center: Media Violence Facts and Statistics
- AAFP: Position Paper on Media Violence
- Encyclopedia of Death and Dying: Children and Media Violence
- Media Awareness Network: Research on the Effects of Media Violence
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents
