Violence in the Media

In today’s world, more than 60% of TV shows contain some violence and 40% of these programs are considered heavily violent (Swanbrow, 2007). Violence on TV does not always equate to violent messages. Despite this, a study conducted by Smith et. al (1998) found TV shows today are 15 times more likely to promote pro-violent messages or equivocate violent messages, than to promote themes against violence. Why is violent in the media important? Research has been conducted resulting in findings that there is a correlation between the viewing of violent television programs and violent behavior (Potter, 2003). Unfortunately, children are the most susceptible to this known correlation of violent television and violent behaviors (Wilson et al., 2002). Frightening enough, two thirds of television shows and video games directed towards children contain violent media (Bushman & Anderson, 2001).

A plethora of studies have proven the correlation between media violence and violent behaviors. In the Potter (2003) study mentioned above, over 30 different scenarios were analyzed depicting the viewing behaviors of violent television. This study found the effects of watching violent television include aggressive behaviors (both short term and long term), desensitization to violent behaviors, acceptance of violence in daily life, and increased imitation of the violent behaviors presented. The desensitization and acceptance of violence in our society is dangerous in a number of ways. If people are desensitized to violence, that means people are less likely to feel empathetic towards hurting other beings. The acceptance of violence opens windows up to opportunities of thinking violent behaviors are okay to perform, and there will be no consequences. If an increased amount of people share these beliefs, we will be doomed to a world of chaos.

A quasi experiment conducted by Joy, Kimball, & Zabrack (1986) presented three different societies. One society had no television, one society had one television station, and one had multiple television stations. All three societies had similar levels of violence before television was brought to the society that was not exposed to TV programming at all. Two years after this society was exposed to TV programming, both physical and verbal aggression dramatically increased in children in this society only (Joy, Kimball, & Zabrack, 1986). As we mentioned earlier, children are more prone to the negative effects of violent television as compared to adults.

How do we prevent violence from affecting the children in our society? A study conducted by Nathanson and Cantor (2000) presented girls and boys separated into two groups. These two groups watched a cartoon that contained violent behaviors. One group of boys and girls did not watch the cartoon, one group only watched the cartoon, and one group watched the cartoon and thought about how the victim of the cartoon violence felt. The group instructed to analyze the cartoon was asked to do so in order to elicit feelings of empathy. The feelings of empathy were supposed to lessen the effects of desensitization of violent behaviors. The results of the study found boys who were asked to express empathy were less likely to elicit aggressive behaviors, compared to the boys who simply watched the cartoon without an intervention (Nathanson & Cantor, 2000). The result of this study can be generalized across the whole population. Parents, guardians, teachers, and authority figures to children can prevent the negative effects of violent media on children by promoting empathetic thought processes after a child witnesses a violent act on television. Violence is prevalent in the world today. It would not be a logical solution to just cut children off from technology in its entirety. Teaching children empathetic values and the consequences of violence can help preempt the imitation they may enact in the future.

References:

Bushman, B.J., & Anderson, C.A. (2001). Media violence and the American public: Scientific facts versus media misinformation. American Psychologist, 56, 477-489

Joy, L.A., Kimball, M.M., & Zabrack, M.L. (1986). Television and children’s aggressive behavior. In T.M. Williams (Ed.), The impact of television: A natural experiment in three communities (pp. 303-360). New York: Academic Press.

Nathanson, A.I., & Cantor, J. (2000). Reducing the agressive-promoting effect of violent cartoons by increasing children’s fictional involvement with the victim: A study of active mediation. Journal of broadcasting and & Electronic media, 44, 125-142

Potter, W.J. (2003). The 11 myths of media violence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Smith, S.L., Wilson, B.J., Kunkel, D., Linz, D., Potter, W.J., Colvin, C.M., et al. (1998).   Violence in television programming overall: University of California, Santa Barbara study. In National television violence study (Vol. 3, pp. 5-194). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Swanbrow, D. (2007, November 27). Violent TV, games pack a powerful public health threat. Retrieved October 18, 2017, from http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/ 6203-violent-tv-games-pack-a-powerful-public-health-threat

4 comments

  1. While I agree with your premise that the effect of exposure to violence has a detrimental effect on society I take issue with “dooming the world to chaos.”

    My concern, like yours, is exposing children to the level and intensity of violence available in the media. Television, video games, movies, and even music now have ratings that should allow parents to manage/ monitor what their children see. Unfortunately, in this hectic world it is doubtful how effective this rating source is.

    In a report entitled Television and Video Violence published by the APA it was reported that:
    • Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others.
    • Children may be more fearful of the world around them.
    • Children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others (Violence in the Media).
    In my opinion this is where families, schools, churches, and youth organizations can step in change the direction. To proactively address the use and impact of violence it is necessary to teach and role model effective ways of handling conflicts.

    One approach is using a values based education. This is not caught in a singular religious belief but in the values that are important in society. These may include self-discipline, altruism, empowerment, relationships, tolerance, respect, collaboration and any other values that can influence children to be participating members of society. Including values as part of the curriculum is creating teachable moments for students. In a study done by Lovat and Hawkes they concluded, “that values education is consistently accompanied by greater self awareness on the part of students and more harmonious social interactions in the playground and in the classroom. In this improved learning environment, one can find academic diligence and improvement occurring without any other obvious determining factor” (Lovat and Hawkes, 2013).

    It is important that we face this problem directly. We can’t change the news but it is important to recognize the goodness in the world too. And we must give children the skills to build a better world.

    References
    Lovat, T., & Hawkes, N. (2013). Values education: A pedagogical imperative for student wellbeing. Educational Research International, 2(2). Retrieved from http://www.erint.savap.org.pk/PDF/Vol.2(2)/ERInt.2013(2.2-01).pdf

    Lovat, T., & Hawkes, N. (2013). Values education: A pedagogical imperative for student wellbeing. Educational Research International, 2(2). Retrieved from http://www.erint.savap.org.pk/PDF/Vol.2(2)/ERInt.2013(2.2-01).pdf

  2. Lourdes Camille Gonzalez

    Great topic! I am personally interested in this topic because I am a mom. I know most television shows or movies are not appropriate for children. This subject reminds me of the known study by Bandura conducted many years ago, investigating social behavior and imitation through observation. If I am correct, I remember the children had to watch television, some of them watched a non-aggressive program while the others watched a program that presented aggression. The results show indeed, the children who watched the aggressive program behaved in an aggressive way towards a doll, imitating behavior. This is from my memory. Simply Psychology website presents a very good summary of the study called the Bobo Doll Experiment by Bandura (link under references). Like you explain, many studies have proven the relation between violence in the media and violent behavior. Children are especially vulnerable to this because they are exposed during development. They grow up and is not only TV, but media, advertising, newspapers, and one very important, video games. Video games, like movies, have a rating but many people do not follow these ratings. Children then have access to games everywhere now, not only in a video game console, but a tablet or cell phone. An article by the Artifice, explain that Dr. David Walsh in 2000 published an article stating that 90% of teenagers say their parents ‘never’ check the video games ratings (Video Game Content Ratings). The problem is the media is everywhere and violence will remain present. When I read your question about how to prevent violence from affecting children in our society? I immediately thought well, limits and control. Your conclusion took me by surprise but I totally agree. Some things are not going to change or go away so I like your focus on teaching children how to process these situations correctly in addition to feelings of empathy and other values. At the end, is really about doing our best to protect our children while teaching them to live in this world.

    Good job.

    References:

    McLeod, S. (1970, January 01). Saul McLeod. Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html

    Video Game Content Ratings: Does Anyone Care Anymore? (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://the-artifice.com/video-game-content-ratings-anyone-care-anymore/

  3. Greetings,

    I think you illustrated well how violence can affect society through your analysis of past research on the situation. For example, the study conducted by Joy, Kimball, and Zabrack (1986) illustrated how violence in children rose after the expose of television to a group who did not have access to violent television programming. You point to how this could be the result of desensitization toward violence, an acceptance of violence, while increasing violent behavior (Potter, 2003). In reflecting on your blog, it is interesting how the viewing of this material seems to legitimize the violent acts themselves. For example, if a person is watching a violent program might think, “This television program is displaying a person getting beat-up in front of strangers, so it must be okay for me to do that.” Granted I do not think it is quite that simply, I think it does allow people to question previously accepted social norms against violence since they are witnessing others performing acts that violate those norms without any level of accountability. To the point about the desensitization, if one witnesses it over-and-over, would is likely to allow that person to think aggressive behaviors are socially acceptable behavior. I’m curious, what do you think?

    Again, good job!

    Brandon

    References

    Joy, L.A., Kimball, M.M., & Zabrack, M.L. (1986). Television and children’s aggressive behavior. In T.M. Williams (Ed.), The impact of television: A natural experiment in three communities (pp. 303-360). New York: Academic Press.

    Potter, W.J. (2003). The 11 myths of media violence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  4. Greetings,

    I think you illustrated well how violence can affect society through your analysis of past research on the situation. For example, the study conducted by Joy, Kimball, and Zabrack (1986) illustrated how violence in children rose after the expose of television to a group who did not have access to television programming. You point to how this could be the result of desensitization toward violence, an acceptance of violence, while increasing violent behavior (Potter , 2003). In reflecting on your blog, it is interesting how the viewing of this material seems to legitimize the violent acts themselves. For example, this television program is displaying a person getting beat-up in front of strangers, so it must be okay for me to do that. Granted I do not think it is quite that simply, I think it does allow people to question previously accepted social norms against violence since they are witnessing others performing acts that violate those norms without any level of accountability. What do you think?

    Again, good job!

    Brandon

    References

    Joy, L.A., Kimball, M.M., & Zabrack, M.L. (1986). Television and children’s aggressive behavior. In T.M. Williams (Ed.), The impact of television: A natural experiment in three communities (pp. 303-360). New York: Academic Press.

    Potter, W.J. (2003). The 11 myths of media violence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Leave a Reply


Skip to toolbar