Explicit Media Content and Behavior - Literature review Example

Introduction Numerous research studies have examined the negative effects of explicit and objectionable media content to the audience especially young children and adolescents. However, in spite of the concerns raised about exposing the audience to these forms of content, media houses and entertainment industries are still selling the content, an indicator of a growing demand for the products in the society. Advance in information technology has further enhanced ways of distributing the content, even to the young children in spite of government enforcement of strict measures to restrict accessibility. Objectionable and explicit media content are in different forms, including video games, music, television programs and pornographic videos. These programs show objectionable and socially offending content including promiscuity, violence, drug abuse and occultism among others. This paper examines the complaints that objectionable media content has generated, emphasizing on critical analysis of the linkage between the contents and the objections raised by the society. Complaints to objectionable content Various media contents have generated negative criticism from the society. Some of the complaints originate from particular segments of the society while others elicit widespread criticism. In a research study investigating the reactions of the society to objectionable media content, Stephenson (2007) identified religion, race, and culture in addition to sexual orientation as the major factors determining how particular media content is received in the society. In American society, the minority groups have been raising concerns about how their image is portrayed in the media. In the movie industry for instance Adler, et al(2007) noted that most African American males play violent and vulgar roles that portray them as hardcore criminals with an inclination of abusing hard drugs. In addition, many television programs focusing on black people portray the negative side such as poverty, crime and chronic disease infection in addition to broken and unhappy families. These programs have recently fallen under heavy criticism because they hardly show achievements or positive side of the black people in the community. The negative media publicity of the minorities, especially in developed countries has been attributed by Bushman and Cantor (2003) as the leading cause of reinforcing crime, drug abuse and other social problems, among the minority groups. In addition, they promote racial prejudice, where a particular race is regarded with scorn, suspicion and mistrust. Besides negative depiction of African Americans, portrayal of people from East Asian countries such as Japan and china in the media is equally biased compared to white actors. A study conducted by Stephenson (2007) established that most movies with male actors from oriental countries portray them as extremely violent and cold hearted with exemplary martial arts skills. Similarly, female actors from these countries are portrayed as delicate, weak and sexually attractive. This perception creates an impression that Asian females are incompatible with their violent, cold hearted and inhuman counterparts in romantic relationships. Sexually explicit and pornographic programs are some of the most heavily criticized media content in all segments of the society. In extremely conservative societies and religious groups, media programs that broadcast scanty dressing or behavior with sexual overtone are not allowed (Adler, et al 2007). Pornographic content is considered as the epitome of sexual immorality in most societies. Currently, restricting access to pornographic materials to the young people is among the top priorities in most countries. Sexually explicit media contents are attributed to promoting promiscuity and other adverse sexual behavior, such as pedophilia, rape and homosexuality. Effect of objectionable content on behavior High prevalence of violent crime, promiscuity, drug abuse and other social disorders have been credited to the negative influence of objectionable media content to the society. According to Bushman and Cantor (2003), increasing access to television has proportionately accelerated the rate of crime in United States, in the past 50 years. Children and the youth form the largest component of criminal offenders, suggesting the high viewership of media content that this segment commands in the society. Violent gun crime, especially among the youth is an increasing global trend (Stephenson, 2007). Both developed and developing countries are facing an increasing rate of teenage pregnancy and an increasing rate of juvenile offenders. The rate of crime is particularly high among the minority groups. According to Adler et al (2007), minority communities have a disproportionately higher rate of prisoners in American jails and correctional centers compared to the majority group. This trend is partly ascribed to broadcasting of objectionable content that portrays the negative aspects of the minority groups (Ivory, et al 2009). According to Stephenson (2007), African Americans account to a higher number of prisoners convicted for drug related crimes, violent robbery and rape, compared to whites in United States. In addition, groups that the media depict negatively in the society are often mistreated, and arrested because of their race and their depicted roles in the media (Stephenson 2007). This implies that a person could be killed simply because he is perceived to be a criminal who deserves death. A study conducted by Ivory, et al (2009) established that a person from minority group is more likely to be turned down from a job opportunity, unlawfully arrested and be at shot than a white person in the United States. This trend is ascribed to broadcasting of objectionable content in the media that has negatively affected the perception of these minorities by the society. Media instigated crimes committed by the minority groups are not limited to United States alone. In the last few years, media houses have been focusing much of their broadcasts on crime in black neighborhoods in the United Kingdom. This has reached a point of sensationalizing the news, not because there are no crimes being committed elsewhere but because blacks have been historically associated with misdemeanor. Between 2006 and 2007, Stephenson (2007) reported increasing media coverage on fatal knife stabbings and shooting among the black community in the United Kingdom. Although the killings reported accounted to a small proportion of total homicides committed in the country, the huge media attention that they commanded demonstrates how depiction of crime by the media reflects a particular race negatively. The high media attention focusing on crimes committed by particular groups reinforces the mentality of the larger society about the conduct of the highlighted group. Labeling theory holds that the majority groups initiate criminal behavior by assigning negative labels to minorities or non-conformists in the society (Adler, et al 2007). This implies that transmission of objectionable content depicting a particular race or group in a crime and other socially unacceptable conduct influences the behavior of the targeted group according to the stereotypical impression created in the media. This explains why the media remains one of the most influential tools in influencing the youth behavior, such as spending and lifestyle. Reaction of adults and children to objectionable material Adults and children react differently to objectionable content. According to Stephenson (2007), young children have a high tendency of emulating media contents while playing with their peers. At tender age of below four years, children do not have the capacity to differentiate realism from fantasy (Stephenson, 2007). Consequently, they might consider the objectionable media content as the norm or natural thing to do. Objectionable media content depicting violence has a high probability of inculcating aggression in children as an effective method resolving conflicts. Ivory, et al (2009) noted that violent characters in objectionable media content make an impression in young children’s’ mind and many idolize such actors. Conclusion Violent programs make children prone to retaliating aggressively when confronted by a similar situation in life. In addition, studies have shown that young children are desensitized to objectionable media content, viewing it as a normal way of life (Adler, et al 2007). The children become less emotionally attached to the effect of their behavior on other people. Adults have a more realistic view of life and they have ability to distinguish reality from fantasy than children (Stephenson, 2007). This implies objectionable media content has little influence on their behavior because adults have the ability to reason, and evaluate the effect of their behaviour on other people. References Adler, F., et al. (2007). Criminology: Sixth edition. Boston: McGraw Hill. Bushman, B., and Cantor, J. (2003). Media ratings for violence and sex: Implications for policy makers and parents. American Psychologist, 58: pp 126-139. Ivory, et al. (2009). Good clean fun? A content analysis of profanity in video games and its prevalence across game systems and ratings. Cyber Psychology and Behavior, 12(10): pp1-4. Stephenson, W. (2007). Young people and offending: Education, youth justice and social exclusion. Devon: Willan Publishing. Read More