There is an ongoing controversy regarding the relationship between media violence and childhood aggression. Whether it is TV, movies, advertisements or video games, the media present recurring images of assault, sex, anger, danger and fear. According to the website media-awareness, researchers achieve a general consensus that "children who consume high levels of media violence are likely to be aggressive in the real world." But studies reach many different conclusions about why or how media violence has this effect.
Violence in Video Games
Dr. Lawrence Kutner, author of the book "Grand Theft Childhood" and a researcher on the effects of violent video games on behavioral problems in children, says that violence in U.S. schools has decreased dramatically over the last 20 years. However, the media coverage of violence has gone up, and this creates the perception that schools are more dangerous than they used to be when, in fact, they are not. He concludes that most kids who play rated-M, or Mature, games do not have any problems, but those who play for hours at a time are more likely to reflect violent behavior in the real world.
Television Truths
Why is the coverage of violence going up when statistics show crime has actually fallen? The textbook "Mass Communication" describes the term "gatekeeping" as the way journalists and media producers sift through a large amount of information and decide what to publish or broadcast. The news media, along with certain television programs and movies, tend to have a focus on crime because it is a form of lively and provocative entertainment. Therefore, at a time when the crime rate is actually declining, many Americans continue to believe they are living in an extremely dangerous world. Two-thirds of people with this fear get their news from watching television. Children share this fear because the media portrays the world as one of violence and fear.
Effects
According to Professor Norman Herr of California State University, the average child watches about 8,000 murders on TV before he finishes elementary school. By the age of 18, he sees 200,000 violent acts on TV. At the same time, 79 percent of Americans believe TV violence acts as a trigger to real-life violence. Commercials and advertising also pose a risk. Studies on the negative effects of the media suggest the message to young girls is not only to be thin and beautiful, but to be sexually available. While young males are being told their value lies in being aggressive and not relating to girls emotionally, girls believe their value lies in attracting boys and being available. This is a dangerous message to send to children.
Finding a Solution
It is extremely difficult to restrict advertising and other media available to children. If information is available, children will find it. Instead, parents and others should stress communication with children and developing positive behavior that goes beyond the effects of the media. Children need to understand that what they see in the media is not necessarily an accurate depiction of reality. That means that parents, teachers and other role models must believe and demonstrate this understanding first.
Making Changes
Since you probably can't do much about the way the media portrays violence, you should focus on monitoring that message. Be aware that what you see on TV or in the news might not be the whole truth. Look for what the media is not telling you. You might not be able to change the message the media sends to your children, but you can change the way your children absorb the message.
References
- Television & Health
- Media Awareness: Effects of Media Violence
- Dr. Lawrence Kutner: Violence in Video Games
- Text: Mass Communication in Canada, 6th ed. R. Lorimer, M. Gasher & D. Skinner
- Violence & Sex in Media: Damages to Children
