Matt Chisholm
Jeb Beck
English 110
Dec. 13, 1996
Violence on the Tube
One Saturday morning many years ago, I was watching an episode of the ?Roadrunner? on television. As Wile E. Coyote was pushed off of a cliff by the Roadrunner for the fourth or fifth time, I started laughing uncontrollably. I then watched a ?Bugs Bunny? show and started laughing whenever I saw Elmer Fudd shoot Daffy Duck and his bill went twirling around his head. The next day, I pushed my brother off of a cliff and shot my dog to see if its head would twirl around.
Obviously, that last sentence is not true. Some people believe that violence on the tube is one of the main factors that leads to real-life violence, but in my opinion, television is just a minor factor that leads to real-life violence and that it is the parents responsibility to teach kids the difference.
According to Rathus in Psychology in the New Millennium, observational learning may account for most human learning (239). Observational learning extends to observing parents and peers, classroom learning, reading books, and learning from media such as television and films. Nearly all of us have been exposed to television, videotapes, and films in the classroom. Children in day-care centers often watch Sesame Street. There are filmed and videotaped versions of great works of literature such as Orson Welles? Macbeth. Nearly every school shows films of laboratory experiments.
But what of our viewing outside of the classroom? Television is also one of our major sources of informal observational learning. According to Sweet and Singh, viewing habits range from the child who watches no television at all to the child who is in front of the television nearly all waking hours. They say that on average, children aged 2 to 11 watch about 23 hours of television per week, and teenagers watch about 22 hours per week (2). According to these figures,
children spend less time in the classroom than they do watching television. During these hours of
viewing, children are constantly being shown acts of violence.
Why? Simple: violence sells.
People are drawn to violence in films, television dramas, books, professional wrestling and boxing, and reports of crime and warfare. Does violence do more than sell, however? Do media portrayals of violence beget violence in the streets and in the home?
It seems clear enough that there are connections between violence in the media and real
violence. In the 1990?s, for example, audiences at films about violent urban youth such as Colors, Boyz N the Hood, and Juice have gotten into fights, shot one another, and gone on rampages after the showings. The MTV cartoon characters, Beavis and Butt-head, who comment on rock videos and burn and destroy things, may have been connected with the death of a 2-year-old and a burned room in Ohio. The victims 5-year-old brother, who set the blaze that killed the 2-year-old,
had begun playing with fire after he observed Beavis and Butt-head to say that fire is fun. A few more examples are shown on the picture to the left (Leland 47). Obviously, these are just a few isolated incidents. If everyone acted this way after watching violence then we would really have a problem.
Children are routinely exposed to murders, beatings, and sexual assaults just by turning on the television set. The public is wary of it, of course. Psychologists, educators, and parent groups have raised many questions about the effects of media violence. For example, does media violence cause real violence? If there are causal connections between media violence and real violence, what can parents and educators do to prevent the fictional from spilling over into the real world?
Media violence affects children through observational learning, disinhibition, increasing arousal and priming aggressive thoughts, and desensitization. The Mean World Syndrome, which suggests that children who watch a lot of violence on television may begin to believe that the world is as mean and dangerous in real life as it appears on television, and hence, they begin to view the world as a much more mean and dangerous place, is another way in which media violence affects children (Murray 9).
Children learn from observing the behavior of their parents and other adults. Television violence supplies models of aggressive ?skills.? Acquisition of these skills, in turn, enhances children?s aggressive competencies. In fact, children are more likely to imitate what their parents do than heed what they say. If adults say they disapprove of aggression but smash furniture or slap each other when frustrated, children are likely to develop the notion that aggression is the way to handle frustration. Classic experiments have shown that children tend to imitate the aggressive behavior they see on television, whether the models are cartoons or real people. In one such experiment, a child watches a film where an adult beats up on a life-size doll. The child is then put in a room with the same doll and is observed. The child almost always beats up on the doll in the same ways as seen in the film.
The expression of ?skills? may be inhibited by punishment or by the expectation of punishment. Conversely, media violence may disinhibit the expression of aggressive impulses that would otherwise have been controlled, especially when media characters ?get away? with violence or are rewarded for it. 73% of violent acts in programs went unpunished (?Telecommunications: Clinton Backs Antiviolence Chip? 536).
Media violence and aggressive video games increase viewers? levels of arousal. In the vernacular, television ?works them up.? We are more likely to engage in dominant forms of behavior, including aggressive behavior, under high levels of arousal. Media violence has cognitive effects that also prime aggressive ideas and memories. Media violence provides scripts ,
or ideas on how to behave in situations that seem to parallel those they have observed.
Desensitization suggests that children who watch a lot of violence on television may become less sensitive to violence in the real world around them, less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, and more willing to tolerate ever-increasing levels of violence in our society. We become used to, or habituated to, many stimuli that impinge on us repeatedly. Repeated exposure to television violence may therefore decrease viewers? emotional response to real violence. If children come to perceive violence as the norm, their own attitudes toward violence may become less condemnatory and they may place less value on constraining aggressive urges.
The question repeatedly arises as to whether media violence should be curtailed in an effort to stem community violence. Because of constitutional guarantees of free expression, current restraints on media depictions of violence are voluntary. Films, perhaps, are more violent than they have ever been, but television stations now and then attempt to tone down the violence in shows intended for children.
Still, our children are going to be exposed to a great deal of media violence. If not in Saturday morning cartoon shows, then in evening dramas and in the news. Or they?ll hear about violence from friends, watch children get into fights, or read about violence in the newspapers. Even if all those sources of violence were somehow hidden from view, they would learn of violence in Hamlet, Macbeth, and even in the Bible. Thus, the notion of preventing children from being exposed to violent models is impractical. We might also want our children to learn some aggressive skills so that they can defend themselves against bullies and rapists.
What, then, should be done? First of all, consider whether we are overestimating the threat. Although media violence contributes to aggressive behavior, it does not automatically trigger aggressive behavior. Many other factors, including the quality of the home environment, are involved. A loving, comfortable home life is not likely to feed into aggressive tendencies.
In conclusion, it is parents? and educators? responsibility to inform children that the violent behavior they observe in the media does not represent the behavior of most people. Also, the apparently aggressive behaviors they watch are not real. They reflect camera tricks, special effects, and stunts. Another important thing to tell children is that most people resolve conflicts by nonviolent means. Since it is impossible to censor television because of first amendment rights and television is a small contributor to real-life violence, parents should concert their efforts towards spending time with their children and actually watching a violent show with their children and discussing in depth what is being shown. If children consider violence inappropriate, they will probably not act aggressively, even if they have acquired aggressive skills. For in the words of Andrew Greeley, ?Music, film, and television reflect behavior rather than cause it.? (C2)
If I had known all this years before, maybe my brother wouldn?t have a headache all the time and my dog?s head wouldn?t be facing the wrong way.
Другие работы по теме:
Protecting Our Children Essay Research Paper Protecting
Protecting Our Children Essay, Research Paper Protecting Our Children The overlap between domestic violence and child abuse has been well documented; where one form of family violence exists, there is a likelihood the other
Violence Essay Research Paper Violence is a
Violence Essay, Research Paper Violence is a one of the biggest problems for many communities, but the community isn’t the real problem, almost all the problems start at homes, and at schools there are many ways of solving them, starting for ourselves and our family, and ending up helping to the other people.
Handguns Essay Research Paper All handguns must
Handguns Essay, Research Paper All handguns must be banned because they are the cause (s) of many deaths amongst the people of the world today. Gun violence result in fifty percent of today?s tragedies. Handguns causes too many deaths, the government need to make gun less accessible, and the law/law enforcement need to really enforce the laws they make.
Typology Of Violent Men Essay Research Paper
Reading ?A Typology of Men Who Are Violent Toward Their Female Partners: Making Sense of the Heterogeneity in Husband Violence? was quite an enlightening experience. This essay was the first exposure that I have encountered that had to do with research of the way psychological matters, such as batterers, should be analyzed and examined.
Violence On Television Essay Research Paper Television
Violence On Television Essay, Research Paper Television has changed over time. It used to be a wholesome activity for the family to sit in front of the tube together. It was a new technology that brought the outside world
Violence Essay Research Paper Apr 8 1996Vol
Violence Essay, Research Paper Apr. 8, 1996 Vol. 4 – No. 68 Poll blames many ills on, what else, TV A new poll blames television for many of society’s troubles. It found that more than two-thirds of Americans believe TV contributes to violence, erodes family values and fosters a distrust of government.
Chemical Equlilbria Essay Research Paper Work to
Chemical Equlilbria Essay, Research Paper Work to be done: *By experiments find out how chemical equilibria works. Chemicals and apparatus: *Two beakers *Five test-tubes *Kaliumtiocyanat, KSCN *0.002M Kaliumtiocyanatsolution, KSCN + H2O *Dinatriumfosfat, Na2HPO4 *0.002M Iron(III)nitratesolution, FeNO3 *0.2M Silvernitratesolution, AgNO3Lab: Lab 1 One test-tubes is filled half of distilled water (A) and another with kaliumtiocyanatsolution (B).
Types Of Chemical Rxn Essay Research Paper
Purpose: Observe chemical reactions and ID reactants and products of the reactions. Classify the reactions and write balanced Equations. Theoretical Background: A chemical reaction is a what happens to components that
Gel Filtration Chromatography Essay Research Paper This
Gel Filtration Chromatography Essay, Research Paper This lab s topic was Gel Filtration Chromatography. Chromatography is a technique used to separate molecules on the basis of differences in size, shape, mass, charge, solubility and absorption properties. A specific kind of chromatography is gel filtration.
Enzymes Effects On Chemical Reactions Essay Research
Paper How does this Enzyme effect on this Biochemical Reaction? Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to discover the effects that certain enzymes have on chemical reactions. Were studying organic chemistry specifically, cells and proteins. The building blocks for proteins are enzymes and what better way to understand how they work than to watch them catalyze a reaction.
Tv On Children Essay Research Paper Title
Tv On Children Essay, Research Paper Title: Tv On Children Category: Personal Essay Description: Body Of Paper: The Real World Television Can Harm Young Children By Showing Too Much Violence. There’s One Program That Really Does T
Gun Control 2 Essay Research Paper We
Gun Control 2 Essay, Research Paper We the students of class 7-508 do not agree with the statement that people should carry weapons. We do not agree with this statement
The Godfather Essay Research Paper Violence and
The Godfather Essay, Research Paper Violence and The Godfather Throughout time there have always been people who held more power than others. There are many different methods used to both demonstrate and maintain the power which they possess. Often times violence is the method chosen to achieve these goals.
Elian Gonzalez Essay Research Paper Elian GonzalezA
Elian Gonzalez Essay, Research Paper Elian Gonzalez A young Cuban boy, named Elian Gonzalez, boarded a small boat with his mother and twelve other passengers. On their journey to America, rough seas occurred and their boat began to sink. Elian was placed on a tube to avoid the sinkage, while his mother and stepfather drowned and many other passengers.
Violence In Films Essay Research Paper What
Violence In Films Essay, Research Paper What place does violence have in the movies? Well, I believe that violence has a place in movies depending on the particular film and what the director of the film is trying to portray. If the director uses violence in his/her film and there isn’t any reason behind it, then I would disagree and say that violence shouldn’t be in THAT particular film.
School Violence Essay Research Paper Every day
School Violence Essay, Research Paper Every day a child is hurt purposely, or accidentally by another classmate. There are many things that cause people to take violence out on other people. It could possibly be parenting, bullies, television, and even video games.
Violence On Television Essay Research Paper Many
Violence On Television Essay, Research Paper Many shows include violence as a key factor to interest public viewers. However, people may think television violence is one of the many causes for everyday violence. Dr. Littner has slightly disagreed with this theory and explained his reasoning. Dr. Littner believes that television does not create the desire for violence but supports the existing desire that cannot be taken away.
Domestic Violence Essay Research Paper Children and
Domestic Violence Essay, Research Paper Children and Domestic Violence Child abuse and Domestic Violence are issues that isn t new in society. Both are considered problems that are accepted in the American culture. Domestic Violence is now politically recognized as one of the most pervasive forms of violence in society today, child abuse issues have yet to receive the same degree of attention.
Children And Violence Essay Research Paper JuvenilesChildren
Children And Violence Essay, Research Paper Juveniles Children and violence, were does it start? Some experts say that children from violent environments at home are more likely to commit crimes then others. Some very young children will witness crime at the home and think that it is ok, not knowing what is right and wrong.
Plasmid Extraction Essay Research Paper IntroductionChitobiase from
Plasmid Extraction Essay, Research Paper Introduction Chitobiase, from Vibrio harveyi, is a membrane bound lipoprotein involved in the degradation of chitin. Chitobiase is similar to and may share a common ancestry to the a-chain of human b-hexos-aminidase. Chitobiase is encoded by chb.
Violence In Sport Essay Research Paper Violence
Violence In Sport Essay, Research Paper Violence in Sport In most of our popular spectator sports, winning depends on the use of violence. To score and win, athletes’ bodies are routinely turned into weapons to be used against other bodies, causing pain, serious injury, and even death. How do we interpret the social meaning of this violence? Commentators – both apologists and critics – have made sweeping statements about sports and violence, but their analyses rarely take into account the meanings of violence in sports to the athletes themselves.
Osmosis 2 Essay Research Paper Osmosis in
Osmosis 2 Essay, Research Paper Osmosis, in botany and chemistry, the flow of one constituent of a solution through a membrane while the other constituents are blocked and unable to pass through the membrane. Experimentation is necessary to determine which membranes permit selective flow, or osmosis, because not all membranes act in this way.
TV Violence Essay Research Paper Television ViolenceIn
TV Violence Essay, Research Paper Television Violence In today?s society, television violence harmfully affects the minds of children. However, it doesn?t mean that the violence on television is the only source for bad behavior, but it does largely contribute to the situation (Szaflik). For instance, the variety of television programming, which permeates violence, is sitcoms, commercials, and cartoons.
Violence Essay Research Paper Violence Violence is
Violence Essay, Research Paper Violence Violence is the biggest problem kids, teenagers, and adults have in our society today. Everyday there is usually a headline story or article about a shooting, or killing.
Youth Violence Essay Research Paper Youth violence
Youth Violence Essay, Research Paper Youth violence affects a lot of people. Hearing about it on the news is one way that youth violence has affected my life. In Washington, D.C. there is a lot of youth violence.
Boyle
’s Law Experiment Essay, Research Paper Introduction This group experiment was to investigate Boyleґs Law. It was named Boyleґs Law, after Robert Boyle, who made the discovery. The experiment involved compressing a certain amount of air molecules into a smaller space. The way to do this is to trap the air in between the top end of a glass tube and a very thick layer of oil.
Computer Violence Essay Research Paper Violent Computer
Computer Violence Essay, Research Paper Violent Computer Games A lot of adults say violent computer games make you violent. I disagree. When you are mad you can take out your anger while playing that game. Lots of kids I know have violent computer games and none of them are violent. Pretty much everything in this world has violence in it.
VIOLENCE IN SPORTS Essay Research Paper Violence
VIOLENCE IN SPORTS Essay, Research Paper Violence in sports To: Mrs. Woods From: Jean-Philippe Do you think there?s a connection between sports and violence? If you do, do you think it should be banned? I too think that it?s connected but, unlike most people, don?t think it should be banned. I have many reasons to believe so and I will state them in my essay.