Evidence Ties Teen Violence to Media Violence
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008
by Avis Ward
GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
The results of a study released only yesterday comes as no surprise and only confirms what many concerned parents had suspected. According to a new study, children who get heavy doses of media violence may be at greater risk of violent behavior as teenagers, even when a range of other influences is considered.
The findings, the authors say, add to evidence that violence-packed TV shows, movies and video games can affect some behavior in children. "Even in conjunction with other factors, our research shows that media violence does enhance violent behavior," lead researcher Paul Boxer, of Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, said in a written statement.
The findings, reported in an early online edition of the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, come from interviews with 820 teenagers and surveys of their parents and teachers. Just over half of the teens were recruited from Michigan high schools, while the rest were in juvenile detention centers. The subjects were evenly mixed in the number of males and females, and the number of minorities and non-minorities.
Boxer's team asked the teenagers about their favorite TV shows, movies and video games going back to the age of 7, and then created "scores" for each participant's total violent-media exposure.
The researchers also collected information on a number of other factors that can affect a child's risk of violent or aggressive behavior including academic difficulties, a history of psychological and emotional problems and exposure to real-life violence.
The investigators found that even with these other factors considered, heavy doses of media violence were related to a higher risk of violent behavior and general aggression in adolescence. Even teens at low risk of violence overall seemed to be vulnerable to the influence of media violence.
Based on these and past findings, "there currently can be very little doubt that exposure to violence in the media has a consistent and substantial impact on aggressive behavior," Boxer and his colleagues conclude.
The researchers are currently studying ways in which media violence may affect preschoolers' behavior. Young children, Boxer noted, tend to mimic the behavior they see, but are not yet able to tell reality from fantasy, or right from wrong.
By understanding the mechanisms that influences a child's development, "researchers can try to learn how to intervene in potentially aggressive or antisocial behaviors, and effect change at a very young age," he adds.
Source: Reuters and Journal of Youth and Adolescence
2008 by Avis Ward of GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Avis why should we be surprised? It is as I have written another sign of this age. Best Wishes, Robert.Again, I agree, RM. I guess these studies are to legitimize what has been said all along yet, the reporting doesn't change. The media will continue to show the violence for the sake of ratings. To be the first to give their viewers "an exclusive look" . . ."You saw it first on . . ." is all they want. The video games are still being designed and sold with violent content and let's not mention the sexual content of the music videos. "All signs of this age." Thanks for having been here to read this. -Avis
AvisIf this is true for violence, what about the media's influence on young peoples' self image?Many thanksJonathan, many thanks to you. I think we know the answer to your question. A study will soon follow, no doubt!
Im seventeen and i play my fair share of violent video games and some of my favourite films like the godfather are pretty violent but not in one way do these films make me want to act out what i have seen or made me feel the need to be violent.Personally i feel that the older generations want something to blame for the fall in standards amongst the younger generations of today.Nicely written articleAlexAlex,
Thank you for your excellent response to this article. I feel there is some validity to what you are saying about older generations wanting someone to blame for the degradation of morals and values today. I think we are all to blame but must accept responsibility for our own actions, which is what you have done.
A higher standard of excellence from within is a good thing and when not present, it's a bad thing and people do bad things whatever the motivation.
Happy holidays to you! And keep taking the high road!
Warmest regards,
AvisMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year!Alex
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