Media as One of the Most Important Elements of the 21st Century - Essay Example

Does Media Promote Violence? Table of Contents Introduction 3 Scholarly Views on Media Influence 4 Arguments In-Favor and Against 8 Conclusion 12 References 14 Introduction Media is one of the most important elements of the 21st century, as it is regarded as a valuable source of information to the mass and likewise, has an impact on the life of the public. To an extent, it can also be argued that the changes in the social environment are results to the impact of social media. In the contemporary society, media such as television, internet, newspaper and other digital mod of information deliverance play a vital role in the daily life of public. Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, also acts as a communicating tool to channelize information. Contextually, mass media may impose both positive and negative impacts on the society and on the values, behavioral traits as well as beliefs of people. In other words, the discrete nature of mass media often acts as a framework to base assumptions taken by common people that might be correct and might be incorrect at given instances. Illustratively, this particular notion can be better observed taking violence into consideration when studying the impact of media in framing ideologies promoting violence. For instance, violence shown in the television or video games has a behavioral impact on people that is also argued to increase social risks in the environment. This aspect implies that media has a psychological impact on people, which impose both short and long-term impacts (Huesmann & Taylor, 2006). Conceptually, cultural as well as social norms are influential in determining the behavior of individuals. Violence is one such behavioral aspect that gives rise to various risks. It is evident that people in the 21st century are more influenced through media and tend to mix personal lives with various aspects of the information served by media. Undoubtedly, media helps in gaining a proper understanding about the world and the real happenings in practice but subjected to its responsible attitude to promote the information in a manner that would create a positive influence on the mass or at least ensure their free decision-making (Matter, 2013). With these perceptions and notions at the backdrop, the aim of this paper is to determine the fact as to whether media promotes violence. Correspondingly, the discussion henceforth will evaluate behavioral impacts of violence on people and the society due to the influence of media. Scholarly Views on Media Influence Media plays an influential role in the life of people, as it mostly affects the psychology of people. Media also imposes a positive as well a negative impact on people and have a wide reach. Social media used by individuals as well as a corporate to make communication easier. Media has several forms, such as radio, Facebook, television and many more. The number of users of social media, as per 2013, has increased to a considerable extent in America. It is evident from the fact that big tycoons use social media, such as YouTube, to promote their activities (Bushman & Anderson, 2001). These aspects emphasize the fact that social media is capable of imposing a positive influence on people and are used by companies to promote their businesses. Therefore, in the contemporary society, social media may have significant positive impact on people and their behaviour. According to Savage (2004), media helps the corporate in understanding the changing trends of people and helps in analyzing the complaints, making the social system more transparent and responsible. As per the views of Bushman & Anderson (2001), violence and aggressive behavior is not influenced because of media programs. If this was the case, as the President of Motion Pictures had stated, “If you cut the wires of all TV sets today, there would be no less violence on the streets in two years” (Bushman & Anderson, 2001). However, on the contrary, scientific evidence suggests that media do promote violence and aggression. However, the question in the paper is to understand if media promotes violence. In this context, it is vital to state that visual effects of television and video games have a psychological impact on individuals. As per the research, it can be ascertained that viewing violence through television imposes major impacts on the cognitive abilities of people and their judgments. The study conducted by Huesmann & Taylor (1996) revealed that emotions of people change when viewing violence on media or while playing video games. In this context, it is observed that when children play video games containing violence, they become aggressive and show negative emotions. This affects their cognitive development and expresses less sensitive emotions. They become more violent and might tend to harm others through their behavioral changes, which apparently demonstrates promotion of violence through media (Huesmann & Taylor, 1996). As per the views of Huesmann (1986), children watching violence in television tend to become more aggressive than other students do. This change in the behavior affects their emotional attitude to a considerable extent. The criminal acts demonstrated in the media also affects the cognitive abilities of children and others. Moreover, media acts as a factor that affects the behavior of people by making them increasingly aggressive. Hence, it can be argued that the media programs influence social behavior of people (Huesmann, 1986). Furthermore, according to Huesmann & Taylor (2006), video games affect the psychology of the gamers. The gamer, while playing violent video games express negative and aggressive feelings in order to win the game. The behavior thus changes, causing a reduction in their empathy along with pro-social behavior. Violent video games give rise to aggressive thoughts as well as feelings in the regular lifestyle. The content of media sometimes also ignites violence and aggression not to motivate for a better task building but for negative impacts (Huesmann & Taylor, 2006). However, it is also noted be some theorists that video games, as a form of media, does not always promote negative attitude but also helps in the cognitive development of people. It is rather that the choice of games affects the psychology of people to a considerable extent. It is in this context that viewing news and other programs does not promote violence but affects the cognitive for better development and behavioral demonstration (World Health Organization, 2009). The question to how media affects human behavior can be divided into two aspects, which includes both short and long-term dealings. According to Signorielli & Freedman (2005, 309), media violence also affects audiences in three different ways including “fostering aggression, desensitized to violence along with becoming fearful”. One of the major concerns in this regard is the exposure of images that are violent on media and results in the aggressive behavior of people. Notably, the visual affect of media is high as per researchers. This criminal act in the media affects the social behavior of people and develops a negative perception among the mass. According to the review of 1982, the National Institute of Mental Health comprehended that teens who watch violence in television depicts negative behavior to a considerable extent. Due to the violence, they are likely to become less sensitive towards others and demonstrate a non-caring attitude. However, the impact of violence on children is temporary and not long lasting if guided properly (Signorielli & Freedman, 2005). Media have positive aspects such as programs that provide social messages and information regarding the world activities too those counter its promotion of violence, if any. These programs help in the better development of cognitive abilities, as children and other people become aware regarding the positive activities taking place in the world. The anti social programs viewed in the media also have proven effective in creating a negative perception in the minds of children and which changes their behavior and attitude towards others (Signorielli & Freedman, 2005). The impact of media to promote violence can be illustrated with the help of an example. One of the movies, with graphically violent scenes affects the responsive behavior of people to a certain extent. Illustratively, the movie, “Kick-Ass”, demonstrated view imaginary violent pictures, which affected the people who viewed it (Matter, 2013). It is believed in the regard that the movie does not create violence but increase the risk for violence. Moreover, as per researchers it is stated that regular viewing of media with negative activities might lead to aggression among the people and create a behavioral issue. On the other hand, media portrays positive aspects and elements, which affects the perceptions of audiences in a positive way. People often get to know about the real happening in the world and make them knowledgeable. The musical shows and statistical video games are also regarded to impose a positive impact on the behavioral traits and attitudinal features of people to a certain extent. The knowledge gained from the media also helps people in building a strong positive cognitive for a better future (World Health Organization, 2009). Conversely, violence in the media, if viewed by children, might affect their development in a considerable manner. It is thus observed from the study that viewing violence regularly on television might create an image in the minds of children that the act shown is not wrong. This might further give rise to anti social behavior in early childhood. Not only media but video games too affect the psychology of people wherein they get to learn various activities related to violence (Huesmann & Taylor, 2006). According to Signorielli & Freedman (2005), the growth curve analysis conduced revealed the fact that viewing violence have an effect on the behavior of people and my lead to aggression. Another vital question regarding the role of media is that fictional format, showing violence, has an effect on people. From the findings, it can be revealed that viewing violent crimes on regular basis affects the psychology of people. However, people, due to ‘lack of plausible theory’ do not accept this fact. According to the statistical figure, it is also noted that children play video games in every household and spent maximum of their time in playing so. The games containing violence thereon affects the behavior of children and makes them aggressive as well as less sensitive towards the world. However, the impact of the games is deemed temporary as reflected. For example, immediately after playing violent content games, if the child is guided to view other emotional aspects, the feeling might not be negative (Huesmann & Taylor, 2006). Arguments In-Favor and Against Media has its own pros and cons, depending on the way it is conceived by people. From the negative outlook, it can be stated that violence leads to the creation of a negative perception and influences the decision-making skills of children or adults to a considerable extent. It is also notable that children or teens are highly influenced by the media, as they grasp the learning from what they see in their surrounding environment. Media programs thus affect the psychology of people to a considerable extent, as drug abuse witnessed through media creates anxiety among the young individuals. Therefore, the effect of the portrayal of drug or cigarettes in the media influences the behavior of people to a considerable extent. Media also helps in shaping the society through their programs, to put in on a positive note. The fact regarding media portraying violence is that media helps in depicting the actual situations or relationships of people living in society. The violent gestures, such as the behavior of punishment, absence of mercy and other actions might however create a negative mindset among people. However, it shall be unworthy to state that the insensitive gestures shown in the media affects people and humanity. On the other hand, negative views regarding the use of media is also found to be prevalent in the society. It is evident from the figures that media is also used to reduce criminal activities by making people aware of the real happening of the society. People today are more aware regarding their surroundings and the happenings of the society. Media also spreads the news and share information to people, which make them more attentive, and helps the police to perform their duties affectively and reduce crime and discourage criminal behavior. The potentially violent media contents also affect the mind of people and cause violence (Huesmann & Taylor, 2006). It is thus evident that violence is a part of society ever since the development of community, which however does not disregard the notion that the role of media in influencing violence is also high. The attitude that a person develops depends largely upon the perception of a child and his /her surroundings. The movie shown in the media thus portrays few unrealistic visual that again creates a perception in the mind of the audiences, especially at their early ages. At often instances, examples have revealed that children perceive that hitting people or having drugs is not a crime as the heroes of the movies are portraying the same. On the contrary, it can also be stated that media influences the society in several ways, as a lot depends upon the perceptions of people. The over exertion of physical action also imposes an impact on the mass. It is noteworthy in this context that if the aggression of people, is channelized in a positive way, it will lead to a positive outcome. Few researchers are of the view with regard to this notion that movies and video games impose significant impacts on children, wherein the violent content might affect the behavior and attitude. The news related to gang warfare and workplace violence has also increased considerably in the contemporary society, which can again be linked with the media content (Carter, 1996). Furthermore, with relation to violence, it is observed that when society faces any high profile crime, the authority blames the media and there content. Media herewith implies to the use of television, video, radio and internet. Various programs in the media have their positive effect on the psychology on people although. The news channels and other learning programs thus help people to gain a better understanding and knowledge to a considerable extent. Media also helps in the creation of a positive attitude as well. It is noteworthy in this context that the growing number of social issues faced in the society is caused due to changing behavior of people. The changing behavior of people is also proclaimed to be caused due to the impact of media portrayals in the society as stated Carter (2003). Moreover, Barker & Petley (2013) stated that anything that is viewed has a stronger impact on the mind and perception of people than listening. Conversely, Huesmann & Taylor (2006) are of the view that if violent visuals in video affect the psychology of audiences, the positive and informative programs need to have the same impact on the people. In this context, it is stated that it is not the media, which promotes violence, but it is the attitude of people that matters. A person can draw positive behavior from the media informative programs by ignoring the violence portrayed in television (Roger, 2007). The surrounding of people influences their behavior to a considerable extent and not only the media. Taking into account historic evidences, it is observed that people were brutally beaten even in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when the role of media was negligible. This implies that the violent and aggressive nature in human is not due to media. However, with reference to violence, it can be stated that children are unable to distinguish between good and bad and therefore, the impact on them of the media is the most (Matter, 2013). Media can thus be argued to impose both positive and negative impacts on people and the violence in the media also encourages the act of violence in the practical world. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that people who enjoy viewing violence in media or television are themselves not violent. Taking this point into consideration it can be stated that there are various reasons that affect the psychology of people and their behavior as per the unfortunate circumstances. A person who is violent can be further influenced due to violent actions showcased in media. In this context, violence observed in the media affects people and their behavior in committing violent actions. With regard to real life examples, the programs such as Fear Factor create an impact on the mind of people that violence acts for gaining money is allowed and it is not wrong. In other words, it can be stated that this form of programs are created and broadcasted in media to promote glory, fear, anger as well as disbelief. The violence contents portrayed in media also creates a negative impact on the psychology of people and affect their behavior to utmost. As per the review of Kroth (2012), it is observed and evident that exposure of people towards violent content leads to greater aggression as well as risk behavior. On contrary to this, it can be stated that the absence of proper guidance is the reason for the promotion of violent behavior. When stating about violence in media, it is to be stated that young children view violence to be a practical way of resolving an issue (Barker & Petley, 2013). When comparing the attitude of boys and girls towards violence in media. It is observed that boys are inclined towards more aggression as compared to girls. However, the impact of the content on children can be high if viewed on a regular basis (Carter, 2003). Media, as aforementioned, is a tool of communication, which acts as a link between the real and the reel worlds. Therefore, it worth mentioning that it is unfair to blame media for promoting violence, as media only acts as an influential factor or a stimulant to the occurrence. The act of violence in media influences people, but this does not imply that people become violent only due to the content shown in the media. The behaviour of children are thus framed, due to the fact that the impact of media is not solely true as informative programs and other programs, portrayed in the media too have an impact. Brym (2011) and Fischer & Barnes (2002) are of the opinion that violent programs portrayed in the media are a form of entertainment; hence, cannot influence the behaviour of people. From the psychological perception it can be also stated that media has both positive and negative influences on people and their behavior. The changing mentality and trend is also considered as an effect to the positive influence of media on people. Due to media, people today are made aware of the happenings in the world, which helps them in enhancing their knowledge and take proper stand. The anti social activities in the society are another fact that, as per Roger (2007), is influenced due to the use of social media. Conclusion From the above analysis, it is identified that media has its influence on people and it promotes behavioral changes, but that does not prove its active association with promoting violence. The happenings in the society are also portrayed in the media and its impact is thus sometimes negative and positive in the minds of people. Nevertheless, it is analyzed that video games played by children have its influence on their behavior is evitable. The violent content of video games makes children more aggressive and influences them to display their negative behavior. However, on the other hand, the informative programs and awareness communicated through the help of media creates a positive influence and helps the society to flourish, sometimes influencing individual behavior. Therefore, it can be stated that media has both its positive and negative impacts. However, media promoting violence is not true to a certain extent, as it helps in countering the social evils by broadcasting it to the mass. References Bushman, B.J. & Anderson, C.A., 2001. Media Violence and the American Public. American psychological Association, Vol. 56, No. 6, pp. 477-489. Barker, M. & Petley, J., 2013. Ill Effects: The Media Violence Debate. Routledge. Brym, R.J., 2011. Sociology as a Life or Death Issue. Cengage Learning. Carter, V., 1996. Do Media Influence Learning? Revisiting the Debate in the Context of Distance Education. Media, pp. 31-40. Carter, C., 2003. Violence and the Media. McGraw-Hill Education. Fischer, W.E. & Barnes, D.L., 2002. Tackling the Issues: Critical Thinking about Social Issues. Walch Publishing. Huesmann, L. R. & Taylor, L. D., 2006. The Role of Media Violence in Violent Behavior. Annu. Rev. Public Health, No. 27, pp. 393-415. Huesmann, L.R., 1986. Psychological Processes Promoting The Relation Between Exposure To Media Violence And Aggressive Behavior By The Viewer. Journal of social Issue, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 125-139. Kroth, J., 2012. Duped!: Delusion, Denial, And The End Of The American Dream. Jerry Kroth. Matter, G., 2013. Does Media Violence Lead to the Real Thing? The New York Times Company. [Online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/opinion/sunday/does-media-violence-lead-to-the-real-thing.html?_r=1 [Accessed March 26, 2015]. Roger, J. R., 2007. Adolescents, Media, and the Law: What Developmental Science Reveals and Free Speech Requires: What Developmental Science Reveals and Free Speech Requires. Oxford University Press. Signorielli, N. & Freedman, J. L., 2005. Does Exposure To Media Violence Promote Aggressive Behaviour? Violence in Media, Iss. 14, pp. 306-330. Savage, J., 2004. Does Viewing Violent Media Really Cause Criminal Violence? A Methodological Review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, No. 10, pp. 99-128. World Health Organization, 2009. Changing Cultural and Social Norms That Support Violence. Violence Prevention: The Evidence, pp. 3-15. Read More