Abstract This paper examines the impact of various forms of mass media upon children. Specifically, the paper focuses on the impact of videos, TV shows, movies and the Internet. The paper takes a look at how each media can lead to potentially disastrous outcomes if not enough is done by parents to stem the over-exposure of their children to violent or unhealthy programs, games, or films. The paper also devotes some time to looking at a few important but often under-valued steps parents can take that will protect their children with regards to all of the various types of media outlined above.
From the Paper "Excessive television watching, just like excessive time in front of a computer screen playing video games of one kind or another, can harm children in many more ways than merely psychologically. For one thing, too much television viewing can negatively impact a child's eating habits, weight, physical activity, interest in scholastic matters, physical health, and school performance. Every bit as troubling, a child's sleep patterns and his or her susceptibility to seizures can genuinely be affected by how much television he or she chooses to watch (Gupta, 1994). Parents who fail to understand these facts run the distinct risk of endangering the health and long-term welfare of their children."
Tags:media, children, youth, parents, internet, video, movies, film
Abstract This paper defends the position that violence in the media does indeed contribute to violent behavior in individuals. The paper cites and then negates several arguments that oppose this position and cites research to support the point of view of the paper. It is noted that media violence is not the only factor contributing to violent behavior, and some of these other factors are discussed as well.
From the Paper "Larry J. Siegel defines crime as a "violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted and expressed by a criminal legal code created by people holding social and political power" (Siegel, 2000). Many socializing factors influence human behavior, and criminal behavior is no exception to the rule. Most influential on criminal behavior perhaps is the prevalence of violence in the media today. Hundreds of studies have been conducted in an attempt to assess the impact media violence has on human behavior. Though many still argue that the media has little or no impact on actual human activity, one cannot deny a strong and inherent link between the two."
Abstract This paper explores the topic of television violence and the impact it has on children. In recent years there have been increasing allegations that television violence is having a negative impact on child development. The writer begins with an overview of the problem, looking at specific examples of television in America. Next, the paper defines some key terms for understanding the topic as well as providing a background about why this topic is important to society. The writer concludes by arguing that children are not developmentally advanced enough to separate fantasy from reality and that the increased violence they are seeing on television is creating more violent and aggressive children.
From the Paper "In recent years there have been increasing allegations that television violence has a negative impact on child development . There have been school shootings, children acting out both at home and in classrooms and other developmental traits that have been laid and the feet of television violence".
Abstract This paper examines the problems children face upon the loss of a parent due to divorce or death. The paper provides a literature review which includes long-term studies on the effects of divorce on children. The paper further explains that these effects may include school problems, or more serious issues such as dropping out, drug use and crime. The author cites research that supports the view that the trauma of divorce for children is in some ways more complex and has wider developmental and psychological ramifications than the experience of death. Both death and divorce are extreme experiences in a child's life and both can have a wide range of native psychological and developmental repercussions.
From the Paper "The possible long-term impact of divorce can be seen in recent figures which show that children from broken homes are often more prone to drug addiction and the dependency on chemicals. A study by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta states that, "... 75% of children/adolescents in chemical dependency hospitals are from single-parent families." (A Generation At Risk) The reason for chemical dependency among children from divorced homes can also be linked to the development of behavioral problems that can result for the effect of the loss of a parent. As a finding for the National Center for Health Statistics states: "1 out of 5 children have a learning, emotional, or behavioral problem due to the family system changing." (A Generation At Risk) "
Abstract This paper evaluates the impactmedia has on us in the form of news on TV, newspapers, various dramas, horrors, cartoons and even sit-coms and how it has the power to enrich, educate and entertain. It examines how children come into contact with media and analyzes whether its impact is totally negative. It argues the positive impact of media such as a good educational source and the provision of role models when it is lacking at home. Parents should prevent the negative influence of the media on children where possible but media does have a place in the education, enrichment and entertainment of children's lives.
From the Paper "Though this may be a good thing, it can also be a bad thing. These values may not be what the parents want their children to learn. In that case, the parents need to step in and talk with their children about what they see on TV and in magazines and newspapers. They need to teach their own children about what is seen in the media. I am not saying that if the media is teaching what parents want their children to learn, that it should replace parent involvement. But that the media could enhance what the parents want their children to learn. "
Abstract This paper examines the claim that children's repeated exposure to high levels of media violence negatively impacts their ability to resolve conflict peacefully. Research is presented that supports this view. The opposite perspective is also examined, with experts cited who believe violent behavior reflects the mores of society, not just what is seen through the media. Further statistics are evaluated, such as the degree of violence on television and the amount of time and exposure a child has to such programs. The author also explores the child's interpretation of consequences of violent behavior as viewed through the media. The paper concludes that violent programming negatively affects children, however it is not completely to blame when it comes to children and their responses to violence.
From the Paper "Despite Eron's research claims that media violence negatively affects young children and adolescents, other research conveys the exact opposite. According to Michael Males, the vast amount of complaints against media violence "are misdirected" and that research into the effects of media violence "is unreliable and proves only a minimal relationship between media violence and real-life aggression." Males supports his argument to a great extent by pointing out that youth violence has much more to do with the general violent tendencies of American society. According to the American Humane Association, "One million American children are violently injured, sexually abused or neglected every year by adults. . .one million children are raped every year. . ." facts which Males purports "have been roundly ignored by the same media outlets that never seem to be short of space to berate violent rap lyrics." "
Abstract The paper discusses the effects of aggression from television on children and offers two ways for reducing aggression that result from TV viewing. The paper claims a clear link between violence in the media and an increase in aggression and children and adolescents and further concludes that the majority of parents do not seem to be concerned about the possible impact of televised on their children. The paper is based on two articles: "The Effects of Media Violence on Society", by Craig Anderson and Brad Bushman and "Television and Violence: The Scale of the Problem and Where to Go from Here", by Brandon Centerwall.
From the Paper ""Aggression researchers have adopted a triangulation strategy to examine the effects of violence in the media". This means that three different methods have been used by researchers and later analyzed to determine the effect of violence in television. The three research methods are field experiments, longitudinal studies, and cross sectional studies. Evidence is used from the six most important professional societies in the United States such as the American Psychological Association."
Abstract This paper describes three basic angles of the media's impact on adolescent self-perception. The paper illustrates the media's most positive portrayal of teenagers and its more customary negative angle. It provides real world examples of the state of adolescence in America. The paper explores how and why corporate America and the media affect the nation's children.
Table of Contents
I. Fear is in the TV: Media images of an adolescent world
II. Truth is in the Streets: The rest of the story
III. Autopsy Reports in the Profit Margins: What does Corporate America have to gain?
a. Media Stock in Violence
b. Drug Companies and the New Marketplace
c. Get Tough on Crime (it's easy on the approval ratings)
d. Selling Popularity
IV. I Don?t Want to Be Part of Your World: Self-definition and other underage options
a. Media Complications and Youth Reactions
b. Self-Definition and Viable Options
V. Summary
VI. Sources Used
From the Paper "I began work on this paper with every intention of sticking to traditional subjects. I planned to discuss media portrayal of women and beauty, the formation of high school "cool" through marketing and media pressure, and the legalities of advertising to teenagers. Along the way I expected to discuss such random issues as cartoon characters and smoking campaigns. However, once I actually started my research, an entirely different topic kept popping up over and over again: the negative media portrayal of teenagers and the wholesale selling of violence and mind-altering drugs.
"Multiple school shootings have passed in recent memory. Daily news reports continue to be filled with stories of adolescent murderers and children in adult prisons. The question then presented itself to my mind, how does all this negative media coverage affect the way teens view themselves, and the way in which they interact with the world? Are teens today really more violent, and if so, is that the fault of the entertainment media or some other cause? What is it like to be part of a subculture that takes the brunt of these media scandals? Is it all hype, and does the hype worsen the problem?
Increasingly my other research seemed to pale in comparison to these questions. One day when I was at the library, a boy walked by wearing a Marilyn Manson T-shirt that piqued my interest and made up my mind as to how I should approach this paper. It read: "Is adult entertainment killing our children, or is killing children entertaining our adults?" I set myself the task of answering that question, and further exploring how media messages on violence and group conformity might change the self-perception and self-identification of adolescents, with a focus on the events at Columbine.
There are three basic angles that I felt needed to be explored. First, I attempted to explain the media's most positive portrayal of teenagers and its more customary, negative angle. Then I contrasted these stereotypes with a few real-world truths about the state of adolescence in America. Finally, I tried to explore how and just as importantly, why, corporate America and the general media have affected our children."
Abstract This paper discusses violence in the mass media and its impact on children. It contends that the degree as well as the amount of violence that is present in the mass media grows each year with the result that every year children are exposed to more and more lethal violence. The author explains that the result of this exposure to high levels of violence is that children become more accepting of violence and eventually more disposed to commit acts of violence themselves.
From the Paper "It is all too easy to dismiss the importance of violence in the mass media. Most of us grew up watching cartoon characters bop each other over the head after all and never felt the urge to buy a semi-automatic pistol and slaughter a dozen of our classmates."
Abstract This paper discusses the negative effects the media can have on children and adolescents. The paper reviews an article, "Adolescents and the Mass Media: From "Leave It to Beaver" to ?Beverly Hills 90210'", written by Donald Roberts. The paper discusses the impact that violence and sex in the media has had on youth and stresses that too few studies have been conducted to specifically determine the correlation between content and consequent behavior.
From the Paper "One of the most controversial subjects in the past decade has been whether or not the media, namely television and film, are having a negative effect on children. Although a number of studies have been conducted on this topic, the jury is still deliberating, since research results conflict due to the way the studies are conducted or because of the many different variables involved. In his article ?Adolescents and the Mass Media: From "Leave It to Beaver" to ?Beverly Hills 90210,?? (1993) Donald Roberts discusses the impact that violence and sex in the media has had on youth and stresses that too few studies have been conducted to specifically determine the correlation between content and consequent behavior. Further, much of the research done is flawed or biased. Roberts does believe, however, that even if a small number of teens are being negatively impacted--and most likely this is true--it would pay to take some steps to change the situation."
Abstract The paper explores the proliferation of violent images on television and in the media and its effect on children. The paper quotes studies that have shown that children who watch violence television engage in more aggressive behavior as they get older. The paper cites some of these studies. Furthermore, the paper discusses some of the governmental initiatives that the Canadian government has taken to deter media violence there.
From the Paper "As we turn on the television today, there seems to be more and more violent programming than ever before. And the same holds true with movies and video games. This violence may be having a damaging effect on our society. There have been studies conducted that show links between this proliferation of media violence and the increase in violent acts committed by juveniles. This raises the question of whether the media industry has any ethical duties with regard to the violence which it depicts. There are some interesting facts which need to be considered when looking at the problem of media violence and our children. Statements taken from an article entitled "Facts About Media Violence and Effects on the American Family" show: "The average American child will witness over 200,000 acts of violence on television including 16,000 murders before age 18..."
Abstract This paper addresses the concern regarding media violence and its influence or potential influence on behavior. A literature review comprises most of the paper, with the author citing numerous studies that evaluate the impact of television and movies on youth. The majority of researchers agree that exposure to media violence results in aggressive behavior and desensitization. The paper further describes how access to violent Internet sites may impact young people. Also considered is the link between viewing violent television and movies and acts of sexual aggression.
From the Paper " According to Potter, the differences in definitions lead to a problem of ecological validity, which can make the public distrustful of the results of scientific research studies. For example, from a scientific view point, cartoons such as the Road Runner and Bugs Bunny are very violent, in fact, cartoons are consistently rated as the most violent of all programs on television because the characters are continuously getting "stabbed, shot, hit with heavy objects, blown up, rocketed into the sky, and flattened into the ground," however the characters always recover and never die (Potter). Therefore, social scientists who make strong statements about the harmfulness to children of viewing Tom and Jerry, Road Runner and the Three Stooges put themselves in danger of being regarded as being "fuzzy-headed academics wasting their time with silly research," because the majority of viewers would not regard any of these programs of violent (Potter). Critics who look at this situation conclude that social scientist use poor definitions of violence, and if the results of these studies are viewed as silly by the public, then those findings will not help them make meaningful changes in their children's exposure behavior that could protect them from unwanted effects, and if these findings are not trusted by policymakers, then it is unlikely that they will expend political capital to force changes in programming (Potter). Thus, researchers need to understand more about how the public interprets violence in programming and media scholars must do a better job of highlighting the differences in interpretations and convincing the public about the faulty nature of how it makes its interpretations (Potter)."
Abstract The thesis of this paper is that media justifies its obsession with violence as a way of educating the public, but instead television images make an impact on human behavior by encouraging violence and even false claims of violence and stalking, particularly domestic violence. The writer provides a definition of violence in the media. It then gives examples of certain shows which are classified as particularly violent and why these receive top ratings. The writer also provides research results of the American Psychological Association on the impact on human behavior.
From the Paper "Ever since television was invented, one of the biggest concerns was the impact of sex and violence that was shown in the American homes. What was considered violent and caused major concern many years ago, such as argument between a parent and child, is seen on the Disney channel today. No one can avoid or deny the increase of violence or the fact that violence has a brand new definition. A punch in the nose from a classmate use to be considered fighting or violence, but now is just an inconvenience. A few years ago school shootings had become a major concern for everyone, even for those who have no kids were very hurt by the Colorado school shooting, stunned at the possibility of this happening in America. Everyone loves children and younger high school kids. If school shootings are not enough to worry about, there is now concern over terrorist attacks, which can happen to anyone at anytime. Other forms of media violence includes the O.J Simpson Trial, the Jerry Springer show, and shows that include bodybuilding models-such as Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. The media justifies its obsession with violence as a way of educating the public to learn how to protect themselves, but instead television images make an impact on human behavior by encouraging violence and even false claims of violence and stalking, particularly domestic violence."
Abstract This paper proposes a study to examine the effects of viewing television violence on a sample of elementary school children and to determine if any correlation exists between such variables as amount of time spent watching TV, type and content of programs that are watched and school-based disciplinary referrals for aggressive, assertive, or antisocial behaviors.
Outline
Chapter I
Introduction
Need for the Study
Purpose of the Study
Hypothesis
Theory
Definitions, Assumptions, Limitations
Overview
Chapter II
Review of Literature
Impact of Media Extent of Television Violence
Effects of Viewing Television Violence on Children/Adolescents
Chapter III
Design of The Study
Sample and Measures
Hypothesis
Analysis
Summary
Chapter IV
Analysis of Results
Organization of the Analysis
Restatement of the Hypothesis
Demographic Information
Hypothesis Testing
Post Hoc Analyses
Chapter V
Summary
Discussion
Conclusion
From the Paper "Violent programming has increased 14 percent on broadcast networks and 10 percent on cable. Shelton (1998) further states that about 90 percent of programming on cable services such as Cinemax, Showtime and HBO, depicts violence. Research suggests that the context in which violence is portrayed is an important factor in assessing its impact on children; when the violence is perpetrated by an attractive character, the chances are increased that viewers will become desensitized to aggression or become fearful of violence in their own world. Cartoon violence, which is endemic in children's programming, has the potential to seem realistic to children younger than 7 because they cannot easily differentiate between reality and fantasy, thus posing a special concern (Shelton, 1998)."
Abstract This paper reviews and discusses the issue of violence on television, and how it possibly impacts upon violent behavior in the real world. According to the paper, there is substantial evidence to support the fact that media violence does have negative effects on behavior.
From the Paper "Music plays an important influence on adolescents because it helps to define important social and sub-culture boundaries, and while music is not typically a danger to adolescents, there are a number of teens whose preference for music with seriously destructive themes may be a marker for alienation, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and other risk-taking behaviors (Muscari 2002). Heavy metal and rap have caused great concern because many of the lyrics not only condone but encourage violent acts, particularly toward women, and tend to glorify guns, rape and murder (Muscari 2002).
Moreover, music videos often portray overt violence and depict individuals carrying weapons, thus when teens hear the song again on the radio or disk player, they will flashback to the video scenes (Muscari 2002)."
Tags: video, games, antisocial, behaviors, children, television, movies
