16 - Effect of Violence in the Media

Violence is invited into our homes daily through the media of television. Of course, violence is referred to in other media as well (radio and newspapers), but the effects of violence through television are by far the most dramatic and negative. How bad is the influence of violence on television? Are we overreacting?

quote on watching tv

Two types of programs that the average person may believe to be harmless can, in fact, be the worst offenders for violence. One is cartoons where characters engage in repeated acts of aggression in an attempt to portray comedy. A “real person” would be dead or seriously injured by any one of these behaviours, but the cartoon characters get up, brush themselves off, and continue. This may give small children the idea that they can hit their brothers or sisters on the head with something without serious consequences.

The other type of television program that can have quite a negative impact on viewers is the news. News programs can be upsetting because we realize these events have actually happened. When viewers see the negative coverage condensed into a one-hour or halfhour news broadcasts, they may conclude that violence is more common than it actually is.

When people are immersed in scenes of violence on television, 95% of the studies affirm that a person’s attitudes, values, and often their behaviours will be affected. In other words, there is a correlation or a connection between seeing violence and aggressive behaviour. Exposure to violence in the media desensitizes people. Once desensitized to violence, people are more likely to become tolerant of violence in the real world. In some cases, people are no longer hesitant to use violence against others.

Studies confirm that children become very aggressive in their behaviour after watching a violent episode on TV. Studies show that television violence has a greater effect on children who are academically low achievers and on those who are naturally aggressive. To predict violent behaviour in adults, look at violent behaviour in children. One of the main predictors of adult criminality is early exposure to television violence.

What can be done to reduce the amount of violent programming on television? If the public does not watch this type of program, it will quickly disappear because television producers and distributors are very sensitive to their ratings. Parents can control their children’s experience with television material in other positive ways. First, children are highly influenced by their parents’ viewing habits especially during the younger years. Parents can set limits on the types of shows their children are allowed to watch. Parents can watch programs with their children. They can discuss and challenge television so that children will learn to develop critical and analytical skills as viewers.