Violent Media and Children

1. Violent Media and Children Luke Pinion, M.S.E. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

2. Media Violence History • Historical concern • Increased with Bandura’s work • Social Learning Theory • Surgeon General’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior formed (1969) • APA passed resolution (1985) • Informed public of dangers

3. Media Violence History (cont.) • Children’s Television Act (1990) • New regulations for TV stations • Updated again in 1996 • APA’s Task Force on TV and Society (1992)

5. Media & Popularity • A typical child in the U.S. • Watches 28 hours of TV a week • Watches 8,000 murders by the end of elementary school • 75% of these murderers get away with it • No remorse or accountability • 40+ hours a week using some type of media • 1-7.5 hours a day playing video games • Age dependent

6. Violence in Today’s Media • Prevalence of violence inmedia • 70% of prime time programs • 5 violent incidents per hour • 90% of children’s programming • Upwards of 20 violent incidents per hour • 80% of cable programs contained violence • Varied considerably by channel type

7. Violence in Today’s Media • Portrayal • Glamorized • Sanitized • Trivialized • Antiviolence themes rare

8. Why is Violence So Attractive? • Desire for excitement • 13% of students • Desire for virtual experience of aggression • Empathy effect • Pleasure from violence • Opportunity to ignore restrictions • “Forbidden fruit”

9. Why is Violence So Attractive? • Relatable • Understand violence in society • Aggressive youth like to watch programs portraying similar characteristics • Study criminal world • Learn lessons • Alternate ways? • Complacency • Escape fears and problems • The effect of gender • “aggression effect”

10. Sensitivity • The effects of violent entertainment are complex and varied • Individual characteristics • Age • Amount of exposure

11. Risk Factors • Increase the likelihood of being affected by media violence • High TV viewers • Unpopular children • Lessintelligent children • Low SES • Low parental supervision

12. Risk Factors • Increase the likelihood of aggression • Environmental • Low SES • Parenting style • Lack of parental affection • Drug use • Attitudes and beliefs supporting aggression • Physiological • Temperament • Impulsivity • Hormone disorders

13. Children’s Cartoons Today

15. Behavioral Effects of Media Violence • Increase impulsivity • Encourages a lack of concern/empathy for human suffering • Justifies real-life violence • Imitation of violent behavior • Decrease in academic performance • Aggressive thoughts and actions

16. Psychological Effects of Media Violence • Desensitization • Increases in hostility • Less trust • Fear • Indifference

17. Social Effects of Media Violence • Encourages the idea that violence is an acceptable way to solve social conflicts • Gender Stereotypes Encouraged

18. Violent Video Games • Worse than violent TV? • Identification with aggressor • Active participation • Addictive nature • Reinforcing to play

19. Violent Video Games • Can increase • Aggressive thoughts • Aggressivefeelings • Aggressive behavior • Predictor of delinquent behaviors • Possible decrease in academic performance

20. Music Popularity • Importance to youth • Survey of middle and high school students • Average of 21 hours per week listening • Gender differences • Ethnic differences • Affective uses • Gender differences • Social uses • Changes over the decades

21. Violent Music • Heavy metal • High in violent and sexual themes • Listeners (in comparison) • Conflict with teachers • Perform less well academically • Distant from families • Risky behavior • Depression

22. Violent Music Lyrics • Increases • Hostile attitudes • Aggressive thoughts • Aggressive emotions • Adversarial sexual beliefs • Emotional “sound” vs. lyrics • Effects not as strong as visual media • Violent music videos much more powerful

23. Media ViolenceLong-Term Effects • Studies in the 1960’s • Long-term effects only for boys • Current research • Longitudinal study (Huesmann et al., 2003) • Increased aggression as adults • Antisocial and violent behaviors

24. Parental Monitoring • Variability • Sociodemographics • Many set limits but don’t enforce • Lack of supervision • No way of monitoring • TVs everywhere • Lack of concern • 45% co-view with child

25. Parental Monitoring • Monitoring decreases with child’s age • Older child = less monitoring • Limiting exposure more common among mothers • 61% of children 8 years and older had no rules about TV watching (Kaiser Family Foundation Report)

26. Positive Effects of Television, Music, and Video Games • Play • Promote • Literacy • Thinking • Reflecting • Creativity • Educational/academic purposes • Teaching • Learning • Academic performance

27. Positive Effects of Television, Music, and Video Games • Motor skills • Hand-eye coordination • Learn prosocial behaviors • General development • Teaching • Collaboration • Fantasy

28. Recommendations • Reduce/limit exposure • V-chip • Set limits/rules with child and enforce • Parental co-viewing and commenting • Discuss content with child • Increase father involvement • Monitor • Is this ok for their age, personality, maturity, developmental level?

29. Recommendations (cont.) • Screen all music/game/movie purchases • Be familiar with the rating scales • Promote positive/educational media • Use media productions to change violent attitudes • Promote media literacy regarding media violence • Media Literacy Interventions • Awareness of risk factors • Is your child/student more susceptible?

30. References • Browne, K. D. (2005). The influence of violent media on children and adolescents: A public-health approach. The Lancet, 365, 702-710. • Cantor, J., & Wilson, B.J. (2003). Media and violence: Intervention strategies for reducing aggression. Media Psychology, 5, 363-403. • Gentile, D.A., & Anderson, C.A. (2003). Television violence. In D.A. Gentile (Ed.). Media violence and children a complete guide for parents and professionals (pp. 131-152). Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. • Huesmann, L. R., Moise-Titus, J, Podolski, C.L., & Eron, L.D. (2003). Longitudinal relations between children’s exposure to TV violence and their aggressive and violent behavior in young adulthood: 1977-1992. Developmental Psychology, 39, 201-221. • Riley, D. M. (n.d.). 2007 U.S. video game and PC game sales exceed $18.8 billion marking third consecutive year of record-breaking sales. RetrievedApril 20, 2008, from http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_080131b.html • Senate Committee on the Judiciary. (1999). Children, violence, and the media a report for parents and policy makers. RetrievedApril 18, 2008, from http://judiciary.senate.gov/oldsite/mediavio.html • Strasburger V. C., & Wilson, B.J. (2003). Television violence. In D.A. Gentile (Ed.). Media violence and children a complete guide for parents and professionals (pp. 57-86). Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. • Vessey, J. A., & Lee J.E. Violent video games affecting our children. Pediatric Nursing, 26, 607-610.. • Wilson, B.J., & Martins, N. (2006). The impact of violent music on youth. In N.E. Dowd, D.G. Singer, & R.F. Wilson (Eds.), Handbook of children, culture, and violence (pp. 179-202). Thousand Oaks CA: Sage Publications, Inc.