The Negative Effects of Television Violence on Children - Research Paper Example

The Negative Effects of Television Violence on Children The negative effects of the media violence—via the hourly television programs, outdoor cinemas, and the worldwide web—touch virtually every child in the modern tiny world. Available evidence indicates that a typical, modern American child expends an average of 28 hours watching varied TV programs a week, and that by their 18th birthday, such a child would have seen approximately 200,000 acts of violence with 16,000 simulated murders (American Academy of Pediatrics 1222). With the advent of online rentals of movies, cable TV shows, pay-per-view TV programs, video games, and other online interactive programs at the turn of the 21st century, children in the developed and the developing world alike—especially those at the ages of teenage-hood— are exposed to extreme violent media content than ever witnessed in history. The impact of Television in homes can by no means be underestimated. Unmistakably, the communicative effects of televised programs are far reaching in terms of behavioral change (Deselms and Altman 1554). Apparently, the countless shows powered on the airwaves have different positive impacts on human lives with limited suitability for both children and adults alike. However, the negative effects of TV shows are also real. Parents and guardians should thus take note of the type of TV shows watched by children given the shaping dynamics of the information powered on from the shows to child growth-behavior. Noteworthy, the degree with which TV violence promotes deviant behavior in children occurs without warning with a sustained susceptibility at all stages of development. Because vivid production features accompany television violence, Children’s behaviors are extremely in danger of being negatively transformed by the action programs—particularly cartoon violence. Every child at any given stage of development has the capacity to “grasp something from the TV shows which in the long run determines their behavioral conducts” (Singer and Singer 227). Children normally watch violent television shows with an "exploratory" approach. As they get attracted to stunning production aspects, they actively search for content meaning of intense or unexpected sights. With their preference for cartoons, for instance, children are exposed to violent programs full of distortion of real facts in their viewing day; facts which are likely to be taken out of contexts and put into practice with peers without the conveyed subtlety mitigating information (Singer and Singer 239). It is no wonder that children exposed to high-action exciting television programs behave more aggressively than usual when playing with their peers. Most children who watch wrestling, for example, may want to try to imitate actions after watching violent TV programs. One particular aspect that is common among cartoon programs that are often taken out of context is the constant depiction of characters committing dreadful acts without substantial harm and the subsequent punishments that generally follow in real-life (Watson and Skinner 328). Such cases instill wrong perceptions of violence as harmless with a consequential effect of reinforcing aggression as a normal way of life. Moreover, the notion that certain instances of crime are not punishable tends to breed violence and crimes among children even much further. Another deceptive effect that TV violence implants in young, underdeveloped minds is the presumption that violence may be a better means of finding accurate solutions to real-life problems. As a matter-of-factly, quite a number of issues of disagreement in TV shows are solved violently. With deceptive ideas fully intact, children often take up matters in their own hands while trying to solve cases in which they feel violence may well be an option. According to Singer and Singer, children exposed to television at all ages of their lives learn a great deal of behavioral maneuvers from the TV shows by picking character(’s) role that really interests them, just the same way everyone might want to identify with a role model (227). Accordingly, copied ideas from TV shows often find way in their application in real life issues with the same tactical approaches, which obviously do not result in same outcomes. More often than not, violent TV programs contain characters that commit many heinous crimes but ends up crowned as heroes out of such violence. How does one become a hero by committing a crime such as murder, not of one, but of many akin to a holocaust? Not fully aware of circumstantial consequences of such heroic deceit, children value and reverence the heroic characters to the point of role modeling and even goes to the extent of emulating and practicing their violent actions on peers with the false assumption that engaging them in actual, physical fights with a subsequent favorable win crowns someone a hero; an obvious wrong perception and another negative feed from violent TV shows that crime attracts fame. Violent TV shows usually contain frightening and horrible scenes, which affects children’s view of life wholesomely. Accordingly, a “less secure world full violence” fills the void in the underdeveloped and growing capacity of a child’s perceptiveness of real-life (Watson and Skinner 334). Noteworthy, children do not possess the clearer adult-thinking capability to differentiate facts from fictions. As such, TV shows mirror in actual resemblance as real daily experiences. Hence, their exposure to violent television programs not only translates into real fear, but also shifts attitude towards a conceivably mean world capable of turning violence on them once in their lifetime. Under such scenarios, children may live a traumatized lifestyle, always worried and anxious about making moves that may, in their opinion, invite violence meted upon them. Arguably, violent TV programs do impact greatly on children’s ability to think clearly whenever and wherever watched (Singer and Singer 241-243). A routine watching of those violent TV programs, especially the action fully pact films, actually ingrain some of the unrealistic experiences into a lifelong living lifestyle. Children exposed to such circumstances grow up with violent habits; a lifestyle that is actually difficult to change upon graduation to the hard-core level. Violent TV shows justify killing as fun. Characters on violent TV shows do not care committing murder, thereby creating the perception that life is meaningless. Because their ability to discern what is right or wrong is limited, overexposure of children to violent TV shows makes them accept violence as a normal occurrence in life. This has, in one way or the other, made many children exposed to TV violence to allow, enjoy, and embrace hostility as a way of life after being fed with the notion that such violent acts are normal occurrences (Block and Crain 252-3). While it is castigated as a bad influence on children, the intention of producers of such violent TV programs are actually educational. Violent programs engender in them the act of courage, tact or skill and a great deal of brainwork to acquire success. Accordingly, some great personalities such as journalists, producers, and politicians in the world today owe their success to watching TV shows during their childhood. It is therefore untruthful to condemn wholesomely violence in TV shows without due attention to the underpinnings of such programs. It is true that television violence does account for a significant percentage of children's aggression conducts as well as a general view of life in certain instances. It is also true that children are at risk of being affected by violent TV shows than adults. Nevertheless, outright condemnation would be unduly deserved. Nevertheless, the effect of television violence risks aggravating aggressiveness of children to detrimental ends. Even though the group at risk might be a minority of viewers the world over, the likelihood that they form the majority of aggressors is real. This fact makes children as well as the violent content of television programs worthy of attention. Precaution and control needs to be taken with programs watched by children with due understanding that too much of something makes Jack a dull boy and that imitation may be a limitation. Parental guidance is one effective form of limiting the effects of violent TV programs. For older children, a discussion on certain contents would better solve the problem at hand. Through such discussions, children would develop analytical context analysis and probably overcome effects of televised TV shows on their attitude. Works Cited American Academy of Pediatrics. “Media Violence." PEDIATRICS 5 November 2001: 1222- 1226. Web. November 30, 2012. Block, Jerald and Crain, Bradford. Omissions and Errors in “Media Violence and the American Public.” American Psychologist 62 (2007): 252–253. Print. Deselms, Jason and Altman, Joanne. “Immediate and Prolonged Effects of Videogame Violence.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 33 (2003): 1553–1563. Print. Singer, Dorothy and Singer, Jerome. Handbook of Children and the Media. New Delhi: Sage Publications, Cop., 2001. Print. Watson, Steuart and Christopher, Skinner. Encyclopedia of School Psychology. New York: Kluwer Academic-Plenum Publishing Company, 2004. Print. Read More