Violence on Television

5 Pages 1155 Words

According to the psychological researcher, violence on television affects children negatively. Studies at the University of Pennsylvania have shown that children’s television shows contain about twenty violent acts each hour. They also showed that children who watch a lot of television are more likely to think the world is a mean and dangerous place. Watching violent television can cause people to act in violent ways (Mudore, 5)
Children often behave differently after they’ve been watching violent programs on television. In one study done at Pennsylvania State University, about 100 pre-school children were observed both before and after watching television. Some watched cartoons that had many aggressive and violent acts. Others watched shows that didn’t have any kind of violence. The researchers noticed real differences between children who watched the violent shows and those who watched the non-violent ones. Children who watched the violent shows were more likely to strike out at playmates, argue disobey authority and were less willing to wait for things than those children who watched non-violent programs (Gerbner, n.pg).
There are three major effects of seeing violence on television. First, children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. Next, children may be more fearful of the world around them. Also, kids may be more likely to behave in an aggressive ways towards others (Kalin, n.pg).
One study found that children who watched many hours of television violence when they were in elementary school tended to also show higher levels of aggressive behavior when they became teenagers. By observing these youngsters until they were 30 years old, studies found that ones who had watched a lot of TV when they were 8 years old were more likely to be arrested and prosecuted for criminal acts as adults (Stern, 7). TV violence can have long-term effects on a child’s future.
According to the Mediascope Nation...