Causes of Youth Violence

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the possible causes of youth violence. The paper specifically looks at the contributions of the media, availability of weapons and parental involvement in the incidences of youth violence. It looks at specific examples of media violence, such as films, video games and music and explains how the ideas gained from these sources are encouraged by other sociological factors.

From the Paper:

"The problem of youth violence cannot be attributed to one cause alone. The media plays its part, regaling young children and adolescents with programming that is astonishingly violent in content. The orgy of gratuitous violence continues into adulthood. Viewers and listeners become desensitized to the sufferings of others. Movies and songs teach young people to be selfish and self-centered, and to denigrate and devalue feelings of empathy and compassion. Some people do indeed imitate what they see on television. But the media is not the only model. Parents and guardians provide ethical guidance and moral direction. Nevertheless, not all young people enjoy the benefits of a healthy and wholesome upbringing. Many come from broken homes, and all exist in a society that is increasingly atomized and dysfunctional. The media may help, but it is society itself that urges on individuals toward the commission of violent acts."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cannon. "The Argument for Eliminating Movie and TV Violence." NEEDS COMPLETE CITATION
• Gitlin, Todd. "The Symbolic Crusade Against Media Violence is a Confession of Despair," NEEDS COMPLETE CITATION
• Nichols, Sharon L., and Thomas L. Good. America's Teenagers--Myths and Realities: Media Images, Schooling, and the Social Costs of Careless Indifference. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004.
• Ross, Gary. "Moving Beyond Blame," NEEDS COMPLETE CITATION
• Tidhar, Chava E., and Dafna Lemish. "The Making of Television: Young Viewers' Developing Perceptions." Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 47.3 (2003): 375+.

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