Viewers are influenced by the negative impact of TV violence every day through crime news, war and violent TV shows. The effect of TV violence has been a debate for generations and one that has only increased as TV violence has increased in intensity and popularity. Several studies, such as the National Television Violence Study, proves that violence portrayed on TV can influence children well into adulthood.
Media violence, a smoking gun for behavioral risks
Risks
Studies have shown that there is an increased risk of exposure as time goes by. Parents have to work full-time jobs in order to keep up with a drowning economy which leaves children at home unsupervised to watch whatever they choose, including violent TV shows. Exposure to this violence increases the risk of desensitization and increasing fear in others that they may one day be the victim of a violent crime.
Effects
The media glamorizes violent actions on TV by displaying the perpetrator as good looking and advertising little to no repercussions for criminal actions. "Studies show that viewers of all ages are more likely to emulate and learn from characters who are perceived as attractive" according to the National Television Violence Study. Research also shows that "television violence contributes to aggressive behavior in children, and that this effect can last into adulthood."
Types
There are various types of violence shown on TV. Violence can either be portrayed as justified or unjustified, with a weapon or hand-to-hand combat and punished or unpunished. If a perpetrator is given the consequence for their actions, it at least shows viewers that there is a price to pay for actions of violence. In scenarios that depict the criminal escaping from the act of violence, viewers, particularly young children, learn that they may be able to get away with performing the same actions as well.
Significance
As violence increases on television sets so does the importance of screening TV shows. "A study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2003 found that nearly half (47 per cent) of parents with children between the ages of 4 and 6 report that their children have imitated aggressive behaviours from TV" according to the Media Awareness Network.
Prevention/Solution
Parental controls are available on most televisions and through most cable TV companies. Set a block on inappropriate channels for children if you are unavailable to supervise them and what they are watching. Help your children determine the difference between what is real and unrealistic. One woman, Kelly Renault, MA, suggests that parents should "discuss the violence they see on TV with them, and then brainstorm, as a family, nonviolent ways to resolve conflict."
Tags: into adulthood, National Television, National Television Violence, Television Violence Study, that there
