HOW MEDIA CAUSES REAL LIFE VIOLENCE

Researchers are studying the combination of violent behavior and sexuality in film and video. They're asking whether it's creating a climate in which sexual violence is more acceptable in real life. For years, society has been alarmed about the portrayal of sex and sexuality in popular media. Pornography has been barred and society's principles of what is and is not suitable have repeatedly changed. In more recent years there has been added worry about the increasing dilemma of media violence, particularly after television's home screen began to show scenes of murder and turmoil that few families would ever see in actual life.

More than 1000 scientific studies and evaluations conclude that considerable exposure to media violence adds to the danger of violent conduct in certain children and adolescents, numbs them to violence, and makes them think that the world is a "meaner and scarier" place than it actually is. Violence comes in a variety of media entertainment, such as movies, video games, and television news. Research has revealed that news reports of bombings, natural disasters, murders, and other violent crimes have the potential to traumatize young children.

Six major medical factions (American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Psychiatric Association) caution of these effects of media violence on children:

• Children will increase anti-social and aggressive behavior.
• Children may become less sensitive to violence and those who suffer from violence.
• Children may view the world as violent and mean, becoming more fearful of being a victim of violence.
• Children will desire to see more violence in entertainment and real life.
• Children will view violence as an acceptable way to settle conflicts. (Congressional Public Health Summit, 2000)

61% of children’s television programs include violence and only 4% have an anti-violence theme. In shows with violence only 16% showed long-term consequences, 45% of the wrongdoers went without punishment, 71% of criminals demonstrated no regret, 42% of the brutality was linked with wit, and fatal violence was shown in 54% of shows. (Browne, 2005). Exposure to media violence is definitely linked to consequent antagonistic behavior, violent ideas, arousal, and rage, and a pessimistic outcome on helping behavior. Children, ages 8 to 18, spend more time (44.5 hours per week- 61/2 hours daily) in front of computers, television, and game screens than any other activity in their lives except sleeping (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005).

Ex-army psychologist Dave Grossman, a top American activist, points the finger at movies and video games. He argues that Hollywood films have desensitized kids to the consequences of violence, and video games have taught them how to handle a gun.