The Effects of Hollywood Violence on Children

By Jacob Workman, eHow Contributor

Violent movies may be doing more harm than good to your child. Hollywood is not only the movie capital of the world but has also become a means for disseminating some of the most violent imagery, which is then consumed by children and teenagers. A University of Pittsburgh publication states that a child in America sees 10,000 acts of violence on television each year. What long-term effects this media violence may have on children has been a subject of debate.

1. Criminals in Television Are Not Punished

o

Past claims by media executives that say films are simply reflecting what is in society appear to be based on speculation and not the facts. There were more than 1.3 million violent crimes nationwide in 2009, which reflects roughly 12 percent of all crime committed according to the National Crime Summary released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, according a National Television Violence Study found that 60 percent of 10,000 the television programs they sampled had violent scenes, with over 30 percent of those scenes showing the villain never being punished.

Encourages Aggressive Behavior

o

"Batman" and "Superman" may not be the best shows for your pre-schooler to watch. The University of Pittsburgh reported that children watching these programs were more aggressive then children who watched nonviolent shows like Page 1 of 4

Mr. Rogers. A statement signed by six major professional societies that included the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics said "well over 1000 studies...point overwhelmingly to a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children." Sponsored Links

Positive Parenting Tips Learn How You Can Be a Better Parent. Everyday Tips and Tools www.parentfurther.com

Long-Lasting Effects
o

Repeatedly watching violent acts on television can potentially have long-lasting effects on how a child will behave later on. According to a child development publication from the University of Pittsburgh, 8-year-olds who like to watch violent programs were more likely to behave aggressively and violently when they reached age 18. While most long-term studies were done on boys, one study noted by the U.S. Surgeon General's Youth Violence report found that women who were exposed at an early age to more media violence than their peers committed significantly more violent acts as adults, such as punching, beating, or trying to choke another adult. According to the Surgeon General's report, "these longitudinal studies show a small, but often statistically significant, long-term relationship between viewing television violence in childhood and later aggression."

Attitudes
o

Overall, a child's attitude toward violence after prolonged exposure to it can make him desensitized to its overall impact and effects and also can promote a negative perception of the world. Coupled with potential risk factors of sociological conditions and personality, media violence may affect violent behavior. The U.S. Surgeon General's report on Youth Violence discusses the various risk factors, including media violence, as well as various protective factors, for future violent behavior.

Sponsored Links The Making of Men A Practical Handbook for Parents of Boys - By Doctor Arne Rubinstein www.DoctorArne.com/Book
Page 2 of 4

BOLNetwork Pakistan Complete media Network of TV, Radio , Print & Digital. Join Our Team! facebook.com/BOLNETWORK

God Loves You Just the way you are and He cares for you. GodLife.com

Machine Balancing on DVD Learn In-place Machine Balancing from the Vibration Analysis Experts www.MobiusInstitute.com/iLB

References

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation: FBI Releases 2009 Crime Statistics University of Pittsburgh: TV and Movie Violence Social Psychology Network: Craig A. Anderson - Publications U.S. Surgeon General: Youth Violence U.S. Surgeon General: Youth Violence Risk Factors

Resources

U.S. Surgeon General: Media Violence: Exposure and Content Media Awareness Network: National Television Violence Study Year Three: 1996-97 Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

1999-2013 Demand Media, Inc.

Page 3 of 4

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_8281414_effects-hollywood-violencechildren.html#ixzz2Yp4OntCl

Page 4 of 4