The average child witnesses 200,000 incidents of television violence before the age of 18, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. That doesn't even include the number of times a child sees violence in the movies and in video games. A number of studies since 1963 have found that media violence has negative effects on adolescents. Not only do children become fearful, but they may imitate the behaviors they see on the screen.
Misunderstanding Consequences
Because TV and other media generally do not portray violence realistically, adolescents can misunderstand the consequences of violent actions. Often in video games, television shows and movies, the good guy uses violence to fight the bad guy. This can lead children to believe violence is justified as long as they are fighting bad guys. And often the bad guy wins and is even celebrated in the media, confusing adolescents about the real consequences of violent behavior.
Aggressive Adolescent Play
Immediately after watching a violent program or playing a violent video game, children are more likely to become aggressive or violent in play. According to an article by the University of Michigan, in one study 396 boys aged 7 to 9 years old watched either a violent or nonviolent film and then played a game of floor hockey at school. The boys who watched the violent film played more aggressively than the boys who watched the nonviolent film. Aggressive behavior included hitting, elbowing, shoving, kneeing and tripping the other players. Similar studies have had similar findings.
Violent Adult Behavior
Viewing media violence in adolescence continues to affect the individuals into their adult years, according to the American Psychological Association. Children aged 6 to 10 who watched violent television shows as part of a 1977 study reported more violent behaviors in their 20s than and those who had not watched violent television programs in childhood. Both the men and women from the group were more likely to have been violent to a spouse, responded to insult by shoving, been convicted of a crime or committed a moving violation. Women who watched violent television as children reported punching, beating and choking another adult at four times the rate of other women.
References
- American Family Physician: Violence, Media (Position Paper)
- PubMed Central: Media Influences on Children and Adolescents: Violence and Sex
- KidsHealth: How TV Affects Your Child
- PubMed Central: The Impact of Electronic Media Violence: Scientific Theory and Research
- Eureka Alert: Childhood Exposure to Media Violence Predicts Young Adult Aggressive Behavior
