By age 18, the average American child has witnessed 40,000 televised murders and more than 200,000 total acts of violence, according to CommonSense Media. Children as young as two often see cartoon violence, while older teens witness "slasher" gore. The effects of violent media on kids varies by the age of the child and the type of violence involved, as well as the amount of exposure.
Desensitization and Decreased Empathy
The more violence children witness in media and entertainment, the more normal it seems, CommonSense Media claims. Even if children realize that violent behavior is not acceptable, they lose the connection between unacceptable behavior and paying consequences for bad acts, and may come to believe violence is an acceptable means of settling conflicts, according to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. They may also become desensitized to the suffering of other people, according to Healthy Place. This is especially true for children younger than age seven, because they cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality, especially in a game that shows violence in a realistic way. Very young children often imitate what they see, as well.
Heightened Anxiety and Fear
Children who are exposed to violence in the media often perceive the world as being mean and unsafe, according to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Unlike horror movies of the past, horror movies in the 21st century are heavy on gore and graphic images, says CommonSense Media. A study conducted by the University of Michigan claimed that teens who watched horror movies experienced increased anxiety. Although children may consciously know the violence isn't real, their bodies react as if it were. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP, exposure to violence in media can trigger nightmares, depression, sleep disturbances, and a fear of being harmed. Even for older teens, the association between sex and graphic violence can be harmful to their developing brains.
Increased Aggression
According to the AAP, the association between violence in media and aggressive behavior is nearly as strong as the association between smoking and lung cancer. This is especially true of so-called "first-person games," where the player engages in attacking and killing targets within the game, according to research conducted by Iowa State University and reported by Science Daily. Watching violent content is much different from being an active participant, CommonSense Media explains.
On the other hand, children who were exposed to less violence were less likely to engage in violent behavior, according to research conducted by Internet Solutions for Kids in Santa Ana, California, and reported by the Washington Post. In children who were exposed to high levels of violence, a reduction in exposure can yield positive results, according to research director Michele Ybarra. This could result in decreased levels of bullying, delinquency and other negative behaviors, Ybarra claims.
References
- CommonSenseMedia.org: Facts Prove Violent TV Impacts Kids
- ABCNews.go.com: Pediatricians Fault Media Violence and Sex
- WasingtonPost.com: Less Exposure to Violent Media Makes Youths Less Aggressive
- ScienceDaily.com: In Video Games, Not All Mayhem Is Created Equal
- HealthyPlace.com: Impact of Television Violence on Children
