Observational Learning and Media Violence - Essay Example

Observational Learning and Media Violence Television programs that contain violent scenes tend to prompt aggressiveness and hence violence in children. Through studies conducted by Bandura, when observing violence is combined with reinforcement for violent behavior, it is more likely to invoke aggressiveness in children. On this grounding, this paper investigates a television segment on professional football, a children’s movie, a WWE wrestling program and how they facilitate aggressiveness and subsequent violence in children.

A professional football program A professional football program such as college football airs players lying in the center of a highway while practicing in order to portray their dedication and courage to their port. Most children imitate this and following such a violent program they play football in a more aggressive way. They punch, hit, grab, and kick each other to get their way. Such a program, teaches children how to utilize aggression and therefore violence for personal gain (Lamson 1992).

A segment of a childrens movie A movie such as Rambo III has exactly one hundred and six killings. Children watching such a program may become more aggressive and desensitized to violence. Violent at times may reinforce aggressive behavior in children because it begs for imitation since it is promoted in form of fun and the efficient way to obtain what you want. A segment of a WWE wrestling competition In WWE wrestling competition involving heroes such as Undertaker and Sean Michael, children may perceive these ultra-masculine wrestlers and envy their power, courage, and strength that they possess.

Most of the children will go on and worship these wrestlers and desperately they could grow up and be with such mighty powers. In such circumstances, children are reinforced to be tough on each other. This as such makes most of them to spend a considerable portion of their time just trying to think of how they will become masculine. As evidenced in these three sections of the media; professional football, children movie, and WWE wrestling competition, children watching these programs tend to form stereotypes of the characters through observational learning.

Some aspects of these movies tend to reinforce aggressiveness and hence violence in some children. Reference:Lamson, Susan. (1992). Violence: Does it cause real-life mayhem? San Diego: Green haven Press.