Turn on the TV and count the number of times you witness objects or acts of violence, from images of weapons to physical altercations between individuals. It’s almost too many to count! Research reveals that children’s programming averages 20 to 25 acts of violence per hour. Additionally, the average child in the
A CNN article published in 2002 reviews a study that concluded that “adolescents who watch more than three hours of TV daily are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior as adults.” Accordingly, a 15-year longitudinal study revealed that “children’s TV-violence viewing between ages 6 and 9, children’s identification with aggressive same-sex TV characters, and children’s perceptions that TV violence is realistic [are] significantly correlated with their adult aggression.” In this way, children tend to identify with various TV characters and begin to adopt and model their destructive behaviors. This study also revealed that first and third graders who watch a significant amount of violent TV shows are three times more likely to be convicted of criminal behavior in their 20s.
Interestingly, media violence was found to have long-term effects on only children, not adults. This fact emphasizes how violence must be reduced in children’s programming in order to diminish the amount of aggressive and deviant behaviors exhibited later in life. Children must be provided with a strong and positive attitudinal and behavioral foundation.
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/pspi/pspi43.pdf
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/parenting/03/28/kids.tv.violence/index.html
No comments:
Post a Comment