Witnessing Television Violence: Child See, Child Do - Essay Example

Violence on television is part of the social norm in programming content. Research has found that children who witness violent acts have a higher risk for taking on antisocial behaviors (Adams 337). A great deal of exposure to violence can also lessen the amount of empathy that children show toward others (Murray 1). Television violence might seem harmless and normal to most society members, however, the long-term damage caused to children is major and could be creating a new generation of antisocial adults.

People in society tend to forget that today’s youths become tomorrow’s leaders. During child development, young people build their identities and look toward reference groups to build their sense of ethics and morality. Television programs, with likable characters, make television characters role models for youths. Because the characters are attractive and interesting, children will often try to mimic the observed behavior of these reference group persons. What builds even more trust and interest in these characters is that television programs often use laugh tracks.

These automated laughing machines defend the violent behaviors of characters. Laugh tracks justify that violence or lack of empathy against other television characters is amusing and worthy of humor. Impressionable children seeking belonging by turning toward their favorite television characters could easily begin taking on these same violent behaviors.It is useful to examine this link between child development and looking toward reference figures to build their own behaviors and identities. Studies in psychology have shown that youths adopt their ethical beliefs and behaviors by observing when others are rewarded for a particular behavior.

A very famous researcher, Albert Bandura, discovered that children adopt violent behaviors when they are witnessed. In this study, an adult woman entered a room where young children were waiting.