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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
This article by Burne examined the relationship between viewing violence on television and aggressive behavior in children.
METHODOLOGY:
The author employed a non-experimental descriptive review of the literature on the effects of television violence on children and aggression.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The author found that many discrepancies exist concerning the causes of aggressive and antisocial behavior among children. Several professionals and scholars, such as Britain's Prime Minister, John Major, believe that children learn by imitation; therefore making violent television programs a feasible culprit in contributing to aggression in youth. In addition, Leonard Eron, a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago has been involved with numerous studies on the topic. Professor Eron has found that exposure to violence on television is a major cause of crime, violence, and aggressive behavior in our society.
However, other contradictory and inconsistent evidence has been found that suggests another hypothesis: aggressive children like, and are drawn to, violent television programming. Jonathan Freedman, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, claims that he has not been successful in finding a direct, causal relationship between exposure to violence and aggressive behavior. Freedman has also emphasized considering both social and cultural ideas and beliefs when analyzing violent behavior. He believes these factors to be more influential than simply being exposed to violence on television.
Laboratory experiments have also been conducted in order that a better understanding may be achieved regarding aggressive behavior in children. Brandon Centerwall from the University of Washington, examined the murder rates both before and after television was introduced in the United States, Canada, and South Africa. He predicted that the number of murders would increase after those children exposed to violent programming became adults. He did find that homicide rates nearly doubled 10-15 years after the introduction of television. He believes his findings to be cross-culturally valid, since the homicide rates increased consistently, regardless of firearm availability in the specific country studied.
One laboratory study by Albert Bandura of Stanford University, examined violent behavior through imitation. Children were exposed to a man attacking a large doll with a mallet. It was found that after the man left the room, the children attacked the doll in the same way in which they had earlier observed. However, if the man who attacked the doll was spanked after his actions, the children would not copy his aggressive behavior.
Other laboratory studies have found that imitation of violence is much more commonplace when violence is justified. In addition, random violence, when observed, appeared to make individuals anxious rather than aggressive.
However, Barry Gunter, head of research at the Independent Television Commission which is responsible for regulating channels in Britain, posited that laboratory studies were not always reliable because subjects may behave in ways that they perceive to be desirable.
In addition to laboratory studies, interviews and survey research have been employed when attempting to uncover the causes of aggressive behavior. Children have been asked to identify their favorite television programs, while parents, teachers, and peers rate the subjects' level of aggression based on viewing these programs. Finding causality has been difficult in these studies. In 1978, William Belson, then from the London School of Economics, investigated aggressive behavior among children and found it "systematic." 1500 adolescent males were chosen to have their viewing habits compared with one another. The study found that boys who watched more violent shows on television were 49 percent more likely to commit aggressive acts over their non- violent watcher counterparts.
Researchers have also inquired into "nature vs. nurture" roles - the extent to which biology and/or upbringing affect violent and aggressive behavior among children. Numerous studies have been employed by researchers, which have examined such issues as: biological parenting over adoptive parenting, and whether there existed a relationship between children's viewing habits and psychotic behavior. Lastly, one researcher believed that holding aggressive television programming responsible for violent behavior was a scapegoat. He posited that more difficult social problems that make a more obvious contribution to violence, such as unemployment and poverty, should not be ignored.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Media Violence Effects
Television Violence
Television Viewing
Child Aggression
Exposure to Violence
Aggression Causes
Literature Review
05-05 |