Media Violence

1
Medla vlolence and lLs lmpacL on chlld behavlor

-897,.9
'II you came and you Iound a strange man...teaching your kids to punch each other, or
trying to sell them all kinds oI products, you'd kick him right out oI the house, but here
you are; you come in and the TV is on, and you don't think twice about it. (Jerome
Singer). Media has the potential to generate both positive and negative eIIects on the
youth as well as children. In the present era it is said to be one oI the best educational
tool, but the question that lies here is 'what is it teaching? II it is displaying violence
then what impact would this have on a child`s behavior? In our paper we will be Iocusing
on the aspect that does Medias` portrayals oI interpersonal violence generates aggression
among the observers, iI so, how? Further we will determine the impact oI media violence
on the youth, and to what extent does it disrupts the behaviors oI the child and gain an
insight into the correlation between media violence and the aggressive behavior within
children, and which eIIects oI violence does the media portray in the Iorm oI cartoons or
video games Ior the children, which in turn stimulates aggressive and violent behavior.
Our research tools includes the secondary data Irom the web, the newspaper articles as
well as study oI related books and the primary data in Iorm oI surveys that we will
conduct on which our research will be based. Through discussing diIIerent aspects oI our
topic we have presented a number oI recommendations to the parents, government and
the media organization through which this media violence can be lessen and its increased
impact on children can be reduced.

2

Introduction
Media is deIined as one oI the primary source oI awareness in the present world. In general,
"media" reIers to various means oI communication. For example, television, radio, and the
newspaper are diIIerent types oI media. There are some advantages as well as the disadvantages
oI televised media, besides the advantages, here we are Iocusing on one oI the unnoticeable
disadvantage oI media that is the violence portrayed by the media, and what impact does it leave
on the children, what behavioral changes are developed within the children and how does the
constant exposure to this violence leads children to develop aggressive behavior. Media violence
is deIined as the depictions oI physical Iorce, threats and harmIul consequences that occur as a
result oI unseen violent acts, which are labeled as violent depictions, credible threats, behavioral
acts and harmIul consequences. It is seen that media violence poses a threat to public health in as
much as it leads to an increase in real-world violence and aggression. It is seen through research
that Iictional television and Iilm violence contribute to both a short-term and a long-term
increase in aggression and violence in young viewers and children. Video games are clearly
capable oI producing an increase in aggression and violence in the short term, although no long-
term longitudinal studies capable oI demonstrating long-term eIIects have been conducted. The
relationship between media violence and real-world violence and aggression is moderated by the
nature oI the media content and characteristics oI and social inIluences on the individual exposed
to that content. Still, the average overall size oI the eIIect is large enough to place it in the
category oI known threats to public health. Extensive research has documented the link between
TV viewing and violent behavior. Thousands oI studies have been done since the 1950s, with all
but 18 aIIirming the connection, an analysis posted by the University oI Michigan shows. By the
time a child turns 18, he has seen roughly 200,000 violent incidents and 16,000 murders on TV,
the analysis Iinds. Long-term exposure to such images desensitizes viewers to consequences and
reduces inhibitions, making violent behavior more likely. Promoting media literacy is the most
Irequently recommended solution put Iorth by social researchers and child advocates to counter
violent media inIluences. With help Irom organizations that monitor and track these inIluences,
parents can limit exposure to potentially harmIul music, movies and video games. And can be
3
done by replacing TV with activities that stimulate mental and intellectual development, such as
reading.
%0or0tical fram0ork

Eff0ct on

AAA

Constant exposure to med|a v|o|ence
SLlmulaLes
aggresslve
behavlor ln
chlldren
Causes
chlldren Lo
develop
helghLened
fear ln world
Less senslLlve
Lo paln and
sufferlng from
oLhers
Ch||d 8ehav|or
unable Lo
dlsLlngulsh
beLween
fanLasy and
facLs
lf conLlnued
Lhey become
a LhreaL Lo
Lhe socleLy
1h|s |nc|udes v|deo games cartoons and wwf etc a|| programs
portray|ng med|a v|o|ence
Cther factors |ead|ng to aggress|on |n ch||dren
4

R080arc Qu08tion8
For our research on media violence and its impact on child behavior` we have complied the
Iollowing major research questions
1. Is the violence gratuitous or justiIied? Does it have consequences?
2. Does the introduction oI media violence stimulate the violent behavioral changes in
children?
3. Are Children who watch high levels oI media violence are at increased risk oI aggressive
behavior as adults?
4. Children who consume high levels oI media violence are more likely to be aggressive in
the real world?
5. ow does televised violence result in aggressive behavior?
6. Does the child see television violence as realistic?
7. What role can parents play in order to moderate, mediate and reduce such inIluence?

Hypot08i8 8tat0m0nt

O ull ypot08i8 Children who watch high levels of media violence are not at increased
risk of aggressive behavior

O Alt0rnativ0 ypot08i8Children who are subfected to media violence are at an
increased risk of aggressive behavior.

G0nd0r, mal0 ar0 mor0
vuln0rabl0 to adopt aggr088iv0
b0avior tan t0 f0mal08
,enta| d|sab|||t|es Ch||dren be|ong|ng to
Dysfunct|ona| fam|||es
3

Rational0 of 8tudy
In our opinion the research on Impact oI media violence on child behavior` is important and
crucial due to the reason that our study and in-depths unveils the diIIerent aspects oI how media
violence has an impact on the behavior oI children and youth and how does the violence that the
media portray leads to the behavioral changes in people and children leading to the real violence,
and how can this be controlled. Further the purpose oI this paper is to review experimental
studies and short-term Iield investigations designed to assess the inIluence oI violence in the
mass media on aggressive behavior in the viewer. Moreover the research paper is important Irom
the point oI view that it gives analyses oI both childhood and adulthood behavioral changes, and
how certain cues in the media may trigger the activation oI aggressive scripts that are acquired in
any manner and thus stimulate aggressive behavior. Further to investigate the role oI media and
to make them realize their voluntary responsibility oI adhering to an accepted code oI conduct`,
preIerable chalked out in consultation with regulators/ government agencies. On the other hand
the research paper also Iocuses on the parental attitudes toward media violence can mitigate the
impact it has on children.

6

%im0 Fram0
O The era oI consideration Ior the collection oI research on the topic is 1963 to date. We
have chosen this era because most oI the research was done in this period, experimentally
and non-experimentally.
O We have spent about 21 working days collecting the data, 7 days to analyze it and 4 days
to compile the research paper.

R080arc M0todology
Our primary source includes the surveys Irom the parents oI children under the age oI 12.
Our secondary source includes the web search, review oI the newspaper articles and the detailed
study oI the related books.

7

Lit0ratur0 r0vi0
In the article impact oI TV violence on children and adolescent` , Barbara Frazier, M.S.W
analyzed the impact oI the growing violent content in media and the adverse eIIects it leaves on
the audience, here the target audience that he is catering with are children and the adolescents
and what behavioral changes does the media in cultivates in the audience. Then he Iurther gave
the example oI the TV shows like WCW (world champion wrestling) that portrays violent
content and certain cartoons that pictures violence and how does this stimulates aggressive
attitudes within the children and adolescents.
Barbara Frazier then Iurther provided with the statistics which states that 'The Nielson data
collected in 1993 reveals that the American child watches TV 21 to 23 hours per week. On the
average this includes about 2 hours per day Ior children up to the age oI Iive, about 4 hours per
day Ior children between the ages oI Iive and twelve, and then viewing drops oII to 2 to 3 hours
during adolescence. Furthermore, 98 oI American households have TVs, making television the
single most important source oI media in the lives oI children and adolescents.
Further he stated that their exists a positive and direct relationship between media violence and
aggression and he states that this media violence have two major eIIects oI the exposure to media
violence can be , the Iirst that this could cause desensitization to violence this means that
children will be willing to accept violence and will be themselves perpetrate Ior ti, the other
major impact that it will leave is that the due to the continuous exposure children will believe
that this world is primarily a dangerous and unsaIe place.
Barbara Frazier, then conducted a thorough research that how is media violence and aggressive
behavior positively correlated, and he Iurther proved it through the experimental work oI
diIIerent theorists,
In the article 'media violence and youth by Nisar Ahmed Khattak published on May 30th,
2010, the man emphasis was on how the violence portrayed by media brings about the behavioral
changes in children and what adverse eIIects does it leave on the youth. In this article the writers
says that children under between the age group 4 t0 12 are more vulnerable to the media violence
and this is due to the Iact that they in between this age they are unable to distinguish between the
8
Iantasy and the Iacts and may take those violent acts that they see in the cartoons or movies as an
ordinary occurrence and start applying them. The writer aIter studying the child psychology and
aIter doing a thorough research Iurther adds that children are innocent and they start imitating he
heroes in the media, and it is seen that unIortunately the entire hero`s are rewarded Ior
violent/bold actions. So the children when views these aggressive actions and violent acts, then
this has an eIIect that this leads to the behavioral changes in the children. The short term
behavioral changes according to the writer are the aggressiveness in the physical/verbal
behavior, where as the long-term eIIects can be much more adverse aIIecting the society as a
whole. Then the writer provided some oI the recommendations that how can we regulate this
media violence and Iurther suggested the role oI parents in this aspect, in order to decrease the
magnitude oI the eIIect oI media violence.
In the article 'Violence in the Media-EIIects on Child Behavior by Kelly nault, the writes says
that the violence portrayed in media has a negative eIIect on the child behavior, according to the
writer and her research witnessing television violence causes children to become less sensitive to
pain and suIIering Irom others, in addition the constant exposure causes children to have
heightened Iear in the world and causes then to demonstrate highly aggressive behavior and
violent behavior towards others.
Then the writer Iurther suggested some steps and policy recommendation that how can this be
controlled, Iew oI the recommendations to the parents are like time limit on the watching TV,
In the article media violence spurs Iear, aggression in kids` by Marinda itti published in Feb.
17
th
, 2005 the writer says the violence that is portrayed in media that appears in the Iorm oI
cartoons, movies, video games or on the computer screens can have an eIIect on the thoughts,
emotions and the behavior oI the kids who watch this. The writer Iurther in her article says that
over the years there has been a research on how media violence eIIects the child behavior and in
her article the two British experts Irom the university oI Birmingham add to the debate as "There
is consistent evidence that violent imagery in television, Iilm and video, and computer games has
substantial short-term eIIects on arousal, thoughts, and emotions," write Kevin Browne, PhD,
and Catherine amilton-Giachritsis in %he Lancet's Feb. 19 edition.
The two researchers reviewed many researches on media violence and kids, and all oI the studies
were done in North America, Iorm the six research papers two oI them comprises oI the TV and
movies, while other Iour comprised oI video and computer games.
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They concluded that the violent imagery that is shown, stimulates aggression behavior more in
the young boys and children then in girls, the researchers also point out the Iact that the eIIects is
more evident in the younger children then the older ones.
Now the question that arises is that which kids are more eIIected by the media violence, the
answer to this is that besides the age, the personality and gender also plays a signiIicant role, like
boys are more eIIected then the girls, Iurther a little research has been done that how mental
health make a diIIerence and how children having mental health respond to media violence and
have more chances to Iall prey and develop aggressive behavior. Secondly the writer says that
the children who belong to the dysIunctional Iamilies respond to this media violence and develop
aggressive behavior. "For example, growing up in a violent Iamily and being a victim oI violence
or witnessing violence between others is known to have a strong eIIect on a person's
predisposition to act aggressively". The writer then says that how can we put media violence in
perspective, that can be done iI the parents monitor their children, this is hard Ior them to keep a
check and monitor their children`s media habits. With movies, cartoons, video games their
parents don`t know what they are watching. The writer says that this is a serious issue and should
be taken notice oI by the parents in order to save their children Irom ruining their personality. In
the research on the eIIects oI media violence and its eIIects on aggression by Jonathan
L.Ireedman, the author studied the diIIerent researches on how media violence leads to
aggression in children; the research included the experimental tests in order to analyze the impact
oI constant exposure oI media violence on child behavior. One oI the researches was conducted
In 1956, researchers took to the laboratory to compare the behavior oI 24 children watching TV.
alI watched a violent episode oI the cartoon oody oodpecker, and the other 12 watched the
non-violent cartoon %he Little Red Hen. During play aIterwards, the researchers observed that
the children who watched the violent cartoon were much more likely to hit other children and
break toys. In his research paper he supported the argument with certain experiments like his
research included the recent research, exploring the eIIect oI new media on children`s behavior.
Craig Anderson and Brad Bushman oI Iowa State University reviewed dozens oI studies oI video
games. In 2001, they reported that children and young people, who play violent video games,
even Ior short periods, are more likely to behave aggressively in the real world; and that both
aggressive and non-aggressive children are negatively aIIected by playing. But at the same point
he also pointed out that there are other Iactors as well leading to the development oI aggressive
10
behavior in children, which includes gender, where boys are more vulnerable in developing
aggressive behavior then the girls. And Iurther he provided certain measures and
recommendations as well.
ata and 8tati8tic8
We worked on the cross-sectional data, where we reIerred to diIIerent research paper/ articles
around the world, and collected data and worked on it.
Some oI the statistics and data on Violence in the Media` are as Iollows:
O uston and colleagues have estimated that the average 18-year-old will have viewed
200,000 acts oI violence on television Huston, A.C., Donnerstein, E., Fairchild, H. et al.
Big orld, Small Screen. %he Role of %elevision in American Society. Lincoln, NE.
University of Nebraska Press, 1992.)
O 41 percent oI American households have three or more televisions Nielsen Media
Research, 2000).
O 56 oI children ages 8-16 have a television in their rooms Annenberg Public Policy
Center, 2000. Media in the Home 2000)
O Percentage oI television-time children ages 2-7 spend watching alone and unsupervised:
81 aiser Family Foundation, 1999. "ids and Media the New Millennium.")
O Television alone is responsible Ior 10 oI youth violence. Senate Judiciary Committee
Staff Report, 1999.)
O Average time per week that the American child ages 2-17 spends watching television: 19
hours, 40 minutes Nielsen Media Research, 2000)
O Percentage oI day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70 %ashman, Billy.
"Sorry Ernie, %' Isnt %eaching." New York %imes. Nov 12, 1994.)
O ours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 Barber, Benfamin.
Harpers. Nov 1993. 41)
O ours per year the average American youth watches television: 1,023 Nielsen Media
Research, 2000)

Graphical statistics oI youth violence at school
11

Hypot08i8 %08ting
AIter thorough research and analysis oI qualitative and quantitative data, we have tested our
hypothesis and the results are as Iollows,

We reject 'Null ypothesis and accept 'Alternate ypothesis
Alternative hypothesisChildren who are subfected to media violence are at an increased risk of
aggressive behavior.

R08ult8
The results derived Irom the through research are that the constant exposure to the
televised/media violence have an adverse eIIect on the child behavior, stimulating aggression in
the children.
ere we get the answer to all the research questions that we complied Ior our research paper;
Through our research we came to know that violence portrayed in media has an adverse eIIect on
the child behavior and it is not justiIied, this has the consequences like development oI
aggression in children iI constantly exposed to violent content. AIter a thorough research we
came to know that the constant exposure to media violence stimulates aggression in children and
these children as more likely to be aggressive as adults. We come to know aIter the research and
aIter studying Iew research papers by the diIIerent psychologists that the children cannot identiIy
between the Iantasy and Iacts, so due to this reason they are more vulnerable to media violence.
Further there are some policy recommendations in order to reduce the impact.
Surv0y R08ult8
We conducted a survey Irom 15 mothers and the Iollowing are the results oI each question, in
Iorm oI the percentages.
Qu08tion 1
12
From the survey we conducted, 80 were the mother oI boys and 20 were the mothers oI girls
Qu08tion 2
20 mothers option a, that is less than 2 hours
50 mothers option b, that is 2-3 hours
30 mothers option c , that is more than 3 hours
Qu08tion 3
The mothers oI the boys that is, 80 oI the mothers said that their children watch/play
Iighting/arcade cartoons/games. 20 oI the mothers said that their children watch/play
comedy/Iamily cartoons/games.
Qu08tion 4
70 oI the mothers said that their children watches WWF, X-men, transIormers etc. out oI these
70 mothers oI the boys, 60 said yes their child copy them.10 said sometimes.
30 oI the mothers (which constitute 20 mothers oI girls and 10 boys) said their children
don`t watch such programs.
Qu08tion 5
65 answered yes
35 answered no
Qu08tion 6
90 oI the mothers answered yes
10 oI the mothers answered sometimes
Qu08tion 7
100 answered yes
Qu08tion 8
The suggestions given by the parents varied, some oI the parents said that there should be some
strict regulations in order to limit the display oI such content by the media- industries. Some
parents suggested that there should be some time limit imposed on children to watch TV. There
should be some tax imposed on the media-industries displaying violent content, etc. And such
similar suggestions.

onclu8ion
13
Keeping in view the results devised Irom our research and the survey, we have concluded that
'Children who are subjected to media violence are at an increased risk oI aggressive behavior.
So now as the alternative hypothesis is accepted and through the through research it is proved
that the media violence stimulates aggressive behavior in children and this iI prevailed in the
society, then this would Iurther lead to chaos in the society. So Ior that there are some
recommendation policies suggested.

R0comm0ndation8
Keeping the qualitative and quantitative data in view and the analysis that we have deduced, here
are some recommendations to the parents and the government in order to protect the children
rights; the Iollowing are some oI the recommendations to the children as well as the government
in order to protect children to develop aggressive behaviour.

The list oI recommendations in order to address media/televised violence is as Iollows:
1. Parents should limit television to 1-2 hours daily and watch programs with their children,
enabling them to address any objectionable material seen
2. Physicians should make parents and schools "media literate," meaning they should
understand the risks oI exposure to violence and teach children how to interpret what they
see on television and in the movies, including the intent and content oI commercials. . In
doing so, children may be increasingly able to discern which media messages are
suitable.
3. Schools and homes should teach children conIlict resolution.
4. We should be speaking up to the networks, cable vendors, local stations, Iederal agencies,
and our political oIIicials to help insure that programming decisions are made with an eye
open to the potential consequences to the viewing audience, and that when violence is
present, there are adequate warnings provided to the public.
5. Television ratings and installation oI chips to block certain programs.
6. Encourage your child to watch videos you have already pre-screened and
approved whenever you're not around.
7. elp your children diIIerentiate between reality and unreality, and
make sure they can clearly identiIy the Iake and the Iiction.
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8. The government should restrict the media-industries showing and impose high-tax

R0f0r0nc08
O http://www.pakspectator.com/media-violence-and-the-youth/
O Violence in the Media-EIIects on Child Behavior
O http://www.nation.com.pk The Nation
O http://www.dawn.com.pk DAWN
O http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/violence/eIIectsmediaviolence.cIm
O http://www.deathreIerence.com/Ce-Da/Children-and-Media-Violence.html
O http://ap.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/Iull/28/2/144
O http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/developmentor/theimpactoImediaviolenceonchildre
nandadolescentsopportunitiesIorclinicalinterventions
O http://www.peace.ca/sheet15.htm
O http://www.pakspectator.com/media-violence-and-the-youth/
O http://www.lionlamb.org/mediaviolenceIactsheet.pdIhttp://www.psychology.iastate.edu/I
aculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/01BA.ap.pdI
O http://www.media-
awareness.ca/english/resources/researchdocuments/reports/violence/tvviolencechild.c
Im
O http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/Iaculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/02ab2.pdI
O http://www.indiana.edu/~cspc/ressenate.htm
O http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/articles/violence/toxictv.cIm
O http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/Iaculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/01ba.ap.pdI
O https://wiki.uww.edu/other/childdevresource/images/8/85/Publication2.pdI
O http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/violence-in-schools/national-statistics.html

13

App0ndix
Some oI the charts which helped in deducing results:

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18

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Surv0y
This survey is conducted in order to observe that iI exposure to media violence has an adverse
eIIect on child behaviour, leading them to develop aggressive behaviour.
We conducted a survey Irom the parents oI children under the age oI 13 years, and asked them
the questions in order to analyze the impact oI media violence on child behaviour.

Q1. what is the gender oI your child?
a. Male
b.Female

Q2. how many hours does your child watch T.V per day?
a. less than 2 hours
b. 2- 3 hours
c. More than 3 hours

Q3.What sort oI cartoons/video games does your child like?

Q.4 Does your child watch WWF or cartoons which contains violent content (e.g. X-men) , iI so
does he copy those characters?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Sometimes

Q5. Did you ever receive any complain oI you child Irom school Ior being indulge in some Iights
with other children or bullying other children?
a. Yes
b. No

Q6. II Yes, Do you think that the Violence portrayed in media/television is responsible Ior Iound
in child behaviour?
a. Yes
20
b. No
c. Sometimes

Q7. Should there be some regulations in order to limit the amount oI televised violence shown in
Iorm oI cartoons/video games?
a. Yes
b. No

Q8. What other measures do you suggest in order to reduce the impact oI media violence on
child behaviour?

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Medla vlolence and lLs lmpacL on chlld behavlor

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