Effects of Television Violence on Children's Behavior

Introduction: Television as a Household Influence

In the decades since the invention of television, it has gone from a luxury item to a common household appliance. With an average of two televisions per household, however, its effects on children and society at large have transformed this everyday device into a significant source of harm. With the increased level of violence shown on television each day, children have become immune and insensitive to violence and are more aggressive — verbally and physically — than ever before. While this is a serious problem, it is not one without a solution. Parents need to take a proactive role and monitor what their children are watching, as well as discuss what is being viewed on television, rather than rely on television as an electronic babysitter for their children.

This paper examines the use of television as an electronic babysitter by parents, the effects and consequences of television violence on children, and the various ways we can protect children from the effects of prolonged exposure to television violence. These are important issues that should be addressed promptly. As television violence increases and more parents spend time at work and away from their children, the problem will not disappear on its own. Instead, it will continue to grow, and the only way to address it is to take measures now.

Research on TV Violence and Aggressive Behavior

Studies have indicated that watching more than three hours of television every day during adolescence contributes to more aggressive behavior during adulthood (Blakey, 2002). The study discussed by Blakey (2002) used a mean age of 14 years and tracked 700 participants — both male and female — for a period of 17 years. In attempting to ensure the most accurate information possible, the researcher also examined factors that could independently influence violent behavior, such as psychiatric disorders, childhood abuse and neglect, and family income. Even when these factors were all accounted for, instances of violence or aggression toward others were still much higher among participants who watched more than three hours of television per day on average, compared with those who watched one hour or less (Blakey, 2002).

Also notable in the study was the accompanying editorial's observation that the effect of television on later violence was probably still underestimated. It further noted that 14-year-old males were more likely to be aggressive than their female counterparts, but that by age 22 this pattern had reversed — females were actually more likely to be aggressive toward others than males of the same age with the same television-watching habits. It was suggested, however, that further research was needed to confirm these findings. One theory offered was that females typically begin watching violent television at a later age than males, and therefore the violence and aggression they direct toward others is similarly delayed (Blakey, 2002).

Those working in the television regulation and promotion industry responded to the study by arguing that responsible viewing — not less viewing — may be the key. In other words, the amount of television an adolescent watches is not nearly as important as the content of what that adolescent sees. For every hour of television viewing, four or five acts of violence are typically observed. Programming aimed at children, such as cartoons, usually contains 20 to 25 acts of violence per hour, and not all children appear to understand the difference between real life and make-believe. After all, cartoon characters get back up again no matter what is done to them. When the cumulative violence in children's programming is tallied, the average child will have witnessed 100,000 acts of violence and 8,000 murders on television by the time he or she leaves elementary school (Blakey, 2002).

The Kaiser Family Foundation has also compiled compelling statistics about television viewing and children. Among the most striking: two out of three television programs contain some form of violence, and fewer than 5% of available programs feature any kind of anti-violence message. Children's programming is considerably more violent than other programming, children see approximately 10,000 violent incidents on television every year, and that figure continues to rise annually. It is easy to see, therefore, how children can become desensitized to violence and violent acts — a desensitization that can carry over from television into their real lives, causing problems at school and at home (Henry J. Kaiser, 2003).

Studies have also shown that children are more likely to imitate dangerous or violent behavior during play if they are frequently exposed to it. One study described a video clip in which someone repeatedly struck an inflatable doll. Most children who watched the clip subsequently mimicked that action during playtime, while children who did not see the clip showed no interest in such behavior. This strongly suggests that children exposed to violence on television may exhibit violence in their play and other everyday activities, whereas children not exposed to such programming do not appear to develop this impulse (Henry J. Kaiser, 2003).

How Television Violence Affects Children

Several documented effects occur in many children who regularly watch violence on television. It should be emphasized, however, that not all children who witness violent programming become violent, just as some children will behave aggressively without exposure to such programs. The findings discussed here represent generalizations drawn from sound research, and exceptions exist. Nevertheless, hundreds of studies have examined this issue, and they consistently show that children who watch violent television often:

Studies have also shown that even a single violent event on television can increase an individual's aggressiveness, and this is especially true for children who already have behavioral, learning, emotional, or impulse-control difficulties. Such children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of violent programming. Sometimes this increased aggression appears immediately; other times it does not surface for years. This has been found to hold true even in households with no tendency toward violent behavior (Children, 1999).

Some additional facts underscore the scope of the issue. In 1950, only 10% of American homes had a television set. Today, televisions are found in 99% of American homes, and over 50% of children have a television in their bedroom. Various countries that have been studied show that homicide rates doubled within 10 to 15 years of the introduction of television, suggesting that the violence depicted on screen plays some role in real-world societal violence (Nisbett, 2005).

There are three specific consequences that television violence appears to produce. Aggression and desensitization have already been addressed. The third is fear. When individuals are exposed to a great deal of television violence, they often perceive their own chances of becoming a victim as far higher than they actually are, and as a result they feel uncomfortable in many environments and situations that should pose no genuine threat (Murray, 2001). This is particularly true for women, as female characters are portrayed as victims on television more frequently than male characters, reinforcing the perception of women as weaker and less capable of defending themselves. It is worth noting, however, that more recent programming has introduced women in heroic and villainous roles alike, which may signal a gradual shift in how women are depicted and perceived.

One of the central problems with television violence today is that parents tend to be concerned only about content that is overtly gory or bloody — yet this is not necessarily the most harmful type of violence for children. The most damaging depictions appear to be those in which violence is rewarded or framed as justified. When violence is presented in a positive light, it implies to young and impressionable viewers that certain forms of violence are acceptable, or even admirable (Dittmann, 2003).

Conclusion: Shared Responsibility

When parents take the time to work with their children, the schools, and other parents on what their children are watching and how much violence they are actually seeing on television, there is much that can be done to help children grow up in less violent environments. Many parents, however, use the television as an electronic babysitter rather than spending time with their children, and in doing so they often fail to pay attention to what those programs actually contain.

While many people rightly blame the media for producing such violent content, parents who simply place their children in front of the television and make no effort to interact with them or monitor what they are watching must also share responsibility. What these children are seeing on television — and the sheer volume of television they are consuming — may be influencing their development more than their parents realize. According to the American Psychological Association, the long-term consequences of this neglect could ultimately harm far more than just those individual children.

References

Blakey, R. (2002, March 28). Study links TV viewing among kids to later violence. CNN/Health on the Web.

Children and TV violence. (1999, April). American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dittmann, M. (2003, May). Childhood exposure to televised violence may predict aggressive behavior in adults. American Psychological Association: Monitor on Psychology.

Gerbner, G. (1994, July). TV violence and the art of asking the wrong question. Media Literacy.

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2003, Spring). Key facts: TV violence.

Murray, J. P. (2001, October). TV violence and brainmapping in children. Psychiatric Times.

Nisbett, M. J. (2005, January 19). Facts about media violence and effects on the American family. The Christian Resource Centre.

Parenthood.com. (2005). Children and TV violence.

Raising children to resist violence: What you can do. (2005). American Psychological Association.

Szaflik, K. (2000, May 3). Violence on TV: The desensitizing of America.