...Through the technological development of electronic media and devices, access to entertainment media has become easier than ever before. In addition, these developments have led to an increase in the amount of time individuals spend watching and interacting with screen media, namely films, television and video games. As individuals in society display more aggressive behaviours in everyday life, researchers have endeavoured to identify the extent of how much violence portrayed in the media affects an individual’s thought, feelings and behaviours. While there is still debate as to whether there is a casual link between media and aggression, or that engaging with it maybe be cathartic, it has become evident that exposure to violence portrayed in the media can have short-term and long-term effects. This literature report will concentrate on reports and research focused on the influence of different types of media on aggression and the levels that these can be interpreted psychologically. Influences of Different Media on Aggression Exposure to violent media and the effect that this can have on an individual has been a topic that has interested researchers and society alike for decades. The likelihood of aggressive behaviour, thoughts and emotions is increased with short-term exposure to violent video games and films. (MVC 2012:337; Anderson 2004:2). Reasons provided for this increase by the Media Violence Commission (2012:337-8) and Myers (2013:378) is neural processes known...
Words: 1034 - Pages: 5
...Name Professor Course Name Date Research Paper Outline Video Games Promote Violent Behaviour in Boys 1) Introduction a. Thesis: Video games promote violent behavior in boys b. Prevalence of violence attributed to video games c. Proportion of boys who are chronic video gamers 2) What is known about violence and video games d. Relationship between video games and aggression e. How video games affect the brain f. How video games have contributed to school shootings g. Other moral concerns concerning video games that promote violence 3) What is not known about video games and violence 4) How to address the problem h. Minor's access to the video games/content i. Other approaches to address the problem 5) Conclusion Video Games Promote Aggressive Behavior in Boys Video games have become an acceptable alternative of leisure, especially with the boys. The video gaming industry has been defined by robust growth over the last decade to a point it has now become an acceptable norm in the society. It is purported to be one of the major gross earner industry racking about 87 billion in 2012 (Robinson 414). Major players within the industry release numerous graphic video games into the market to garner a large customer niche. With advances in technology so does the content in most games become more realistic. This trend worries most social players ranging from parents, teachers, legislators...
Words: 2674 - Pages: 11
...they consider Islam as a religion that promotes violence, terrorism and wars. They rely in their view of Islam on the general media, which is not always accurate in reporting the news. In fact the word Islam in Arabic means peace and Islam clearly prohibits all kinds’ forms of aggression and violence. The religion of Islam is the best and most perfect of all religions. Islam is a guide of all Muslims, actually Islam is a religion that promotes peace and understanding among people of all faith and strongly forbids all forms of violence against people regardless of their faith or race. A Muslim society is the best example of solidarity and tolerance between all Muslims, Islam shows us the right path that we have to follow. As Allah said :” and speak to people kindly” and also :” Humanity is but a single brotherhood so make peace with your brethren .” these verses are from the holy Quran show that Islam indeed is a religion of peace and we are all brothers and sisters in this world . Islam has strict laws about those who are violent and also it places very high importance on justice, if someone is wrong he will be punished and at the same time Islam encourages people to forgive those who are wronged them whenever possible, so Islam is a religion of tolerance and mercy but not violence. Many of non Muslims have a gloomy image and totally false ideas about Islam. They think that Islam is a symbol of violence and for them all Muslims are terrorist...
Words: 646 - Pages: 3
...Media Violence and Violent Video Games: The Cause for Aggression – Yes or No? Kimberly Fitzgerald-Amend PSYC3520-Introduction to Social Psychology u10a1-Opposing Viewpoints in Social Psychology Capella University March 2013 Abstract Everyone, at one point or another, may display aggressive behavior. Where did this behavior come from? This paper will discuss opposing viewpoints on the role of media violence and video games in the development of aggressive behavior. Included herein will be a brief overview of Albert Bandura’s “Social Learning Theory”; a discussion of media violence and violent video games and their possible roles in the development of aggression; and the ethical viewpoints on violence in the media. This paper will conclude with an overview of all presented information. Media Violence and Violent Video Games: The Cause for Aggression – Yes or No? It is a beautiful, sunny summer afternoon and spending a few hours at the park seems like a great way to enjoy it. However, only a few minutes into it, Tommy pushes Sara off the swing and now going to the park does not seem to have been the best choice. Why did Tommy do this? What causes children to act aggressively? Is it because shortly before coming to the park Tommy played a violent video game; or maybe on his way out he passed through the room where his father was watching a breaking news story about a murder victim? The role the media and/or violent video games play in the development of...
Words: 2069 - Pages: 9
...Everything that children see or hear in the media early on in their lives affects them in some way. Positive parenting role models indicate that in the best interest of our children we should limit their exposure to violent acts. Unfortunately, violence is one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Over sixty percent of television shows being shown in prime time contain some form of violence. There are two very opposite sides of this issue. The media who market the violent television, video games and other forms of entertainment argue this is safe entertainment and the others argue that violence promotes violence Current research tends to agree with the proponents who argue that violent media is associated with aggressive behavior. Risky behavior by children and young adults can include violence against others, lack of remorse for consequences. The type of faulty thinking creates stressors in children which can lead to the onset of many different symptoms. Children who view media violence are more likely to have increased feelings of hostility, decreased emotional response to the portrayal of violence and injury that lead to violent behavior through imitation. An example here would be the television show Jack Ass. There have been several accidents related to young men attempting stunts that are done on the show. The act of imitating what they have seen on a television show causes injury to themselves or others around them. The Academy of Pediatrics says “More...
Words: 1933 - Pages: 8
...Violence in Mass Media There are many positive and negative aspects to mass media. Many people have chosen to study how violence in media has caused severe problems on people’s lives. It has been found in 80 percent of American television programs contain violence and children unfortunately, are unable to tell the difference between real violence and “fantasy” violence (Partenheimer). Children even under the age of 12 go home every day after school and watch television shows, play video games, or watch movies that have some degree of violence. Video games which are highly coveted by most children, are targets for violent behavior. When a child sees a game that they think is cool because it has fighting in it, the parent goes out and buys it not knowing the long lasting effects it may have on the child’s behavior. Violence in mass media should be better monitored by parents because it increases aggressive behavior through imitation, desensitization, and provoking sleep disturbances. There has been an increase over the past decade in children’s aggression because of violence and multi-media. Children imitate almost everything they see. Based on experiment conducted by professor A. Badura, children are influenced by things that they see other people do; especially authority figures (Muscari). Violent actions promotes negative behavior because that is what they have learned from their favorite television show or video game. Professor L. Rowell Huesmann, of the University of...
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
...Does viewing media violence lead to aggression in children? Younger and younger children our beginning to show increasingly violent behaviour. There has been continuing speculation over the main cause of this. The most important question is whether children being exposed to media violence really does reflect in their behaviour. Recent studies have stated that there is no correlation between media violence and children’s aggressive behaviour. The American Medical Association quoted; ‘Media violence affects children’s behaviour’ this can be explained by the learning approach. There are hundreds of shows which constantly show violence such as ‘wrestling’, ‘the sopranos’ or ‘Eastenders’. The learning approach might suggest that children are imitating the violence they see. Huston et al, 1992 carried out a study proving that once a child becomes eighteen they will have witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television and in the media, including 40,000 murders. Kaiser Family Foundation 2005 shows that children aged between 8-14 spend more time in front of the computer; television and game consoles than any other activity in their lives expect sleeping. There have been over 1000 studies on the effects of media violence. Most of the studies concluded that; ‘children who watch significant amounts of media violence are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour’ – Senate Committee on the Judiciary 1999. Bushman, 2001 said that children are affected by media violence at any age but...
Words: 695 - Pages: 3
...Does Video Game Violence Promote Aggressive Behavior Chris Foxworth Preston Hughes ITT Technical Institute Alan Cameron 6 May 2016 Does Video Game Violence Promote Aggressive Behavior Some people may say that video games and the violence that is in them, are the causes of the younger generation behavioral problems. No matter what the “issue” is with the child, somehow the focus seems to be diverted back to the media they tend to view and the games they play, but this is not always the case. According to Kennedy-Moore (2015), other factors such as family violence, parental discipline, peer rejection, and school problems are established risk factors for aggression. Few parents worry about if violent videogames will turn their children into criminals. With my personal experience, I don’t worry the least bit whether or not my children will become violent or aggressive; let alone become a criminal due to the videogames they play. If these types of games were so inspiring on the younger generation, I’d really be concerned with my son jumping off rooftops because he likes to play superhero type games like Batman and Spiderman. Another article by Dotinga (2003) that I have come across did a study of videogame violence with some teenage boys and girls. During the research study on boys and girls the researchers found that out of the 22 kids who played video games the most each day, were the likeliest to have behavioral problems, exhibit hyperactivity and have trouble academically...
Words: 1171 - Pages: 5
...Media: Not the Precursor for Violence in Society Although the surge of brutality on television is often blamed as the prominent cause for the increased violence in our society, the true causes are related to the social situations that influence and contributing to violent behavior. Child abuse, domestic violence, poverty, and substance abuse are just some of the issues that have a predominate impact on developing aggressive tendencies; people are created by a combination of these life experiences. It is not a coincidence that many of the children growing up with violence become violent. These same combative adults may gravitate toward television programing that depicts aggressive behaviors. Families and communities are ripped apart by the increasing violence in society. It is argued that exposure to violence from television, movies, and video games do cause the violence in communities. The Aurora Movie Theater shooting and Sandy Hook Elementary massacre are just two examples of horrific violence in schools and communities. Both pointed towards media as the catalyst. Notwithstanding are the many studies showing the effect of aggressive behavior from viewing violence on television. Unfortunately, the results of most of these studies show the relationship of violence just doesn’t go in one direction; according to Leonard Eron (1982, p. 210), “Aggression can be learned in many ways. Recourse to aggressive behavior as a way of solving problems is the...
Words: 789 - Pages: 4
...Media Violence Jessica Higginson PSY101: Introduction to Psychology Instructor: Hillary Locke Sept. 28, 2014 Media Violence and Violent Behavior in Children Is violence on television turning our children into violent, destructive, hateful people? Television shows today can be a powerful influence in developing value systems and shaping behavior (Bee, 1998: 261-262). Violence surrounds us due to most of what is on television is violent. For example take Saturday morning cartoons; the level of violence during Saturday morning cartoons is higher than the level of violence during prime time. During prime time there are six to eight violent acts per hour while there are twenty to thirty violent acts during Saturday morning cartoons ("Killing Screens," 1994). Before children finish grade school, they will have witnessed up to eight thousand murders and one hundred thousand violent acts on television (Levine, 1995: 143). Children learn about life through media more than in any other manner. The average child spends approximately twenty-seven hours per week watching television, which means that children spend most of their time only watching television and sleeping (Minow & LaMay, 1995: 32-33). Also, it has been proven by many studies that there is a positive relationship between television violence and behavioral problems in children. The research done by Wood, Wong, and Chachere (1991:378) has shown that "exposure to media violence increase viewers' aggression." This paper...
Words: 2539 - Pages: 11
...Violence in Music Videos and Music Lyrics has a negative impact on children. Music videos that expose profanity and sexuality are inappropriate and leave a negative impression on young children. Violence in music videos can cause health problem. Music videos that promote negative lyrics are affecting young children. Music lyrics with vulgar languages affect the development and well-being of young children. For example, the study author (Stone, 2009) found “that music with explicit references to drugs, sex or violence can be associated with negative effects on school work behavior and emotions” (p. 2). Media violence not only provokes violence among children, it provokes sexual behaviors. However, Music videos add reinforcement to what is being heard with the use of visuals. Rap music video shows an elevated level of content presented of tobacco and alcohol use than any other kind of music videos. Exposure to violence, sexual imagery and alcohol in music videos persuade violent and hostile feelings, potentially aggressive behavior that may direct them to certain types of sadistic behavior. Teens listen to on an average 40 hours of music per week. Children under eight are still developing emotionally. They cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy. They tend to imitate what they hear on the radio and see on T.V. They idolize artists and build themselves to be like them. Children use music to obtain and control of their sensitivity level and to deal with seclusion...
Words: 1619 - Pages: 7
...the view that the mass media are a major cause of crime and deviance in today’s society. (21 marks) It could be argued that with some issues, the media plays a heavy role in influencing people to commit crime. Interactionist sociologists could argue that the media provide a form of database for imitation/copy cat crimes and from seeing these crimes the public are more likely to do them. In the media people are exposed to various types of crime, mainly violent and sexual and so might feel the want to copy these. For example, the copies of Jack the Ripper, the serial killer named the Zodiac or other serious crimes such as school shootings inspired by coverage of the Columbine shooting in America. Therefore it could be argued that the mass media which exposes these crimes to the population could cause these crimes, as they directly relate the crimes reported on. However it could be argued that these crimes which are reported as copy cat actually occur at a much lesser scale than we think. For instance these school shooings and serial killings do not happen as occasionally as might be thought. Although sociologists might argue that the main source of influence even for the small amount of crimes is the mainstream media which reported on them and exaggerated them in the first place. Meaning that media could be seen as a major cause of some crime in this aspect. Left realists argue that media is a major cause of crime also for the fact that it promotes these ideals of wealth...
Words: 1504 - Pages: 7
...symbol, tattoo or other physical marking, style or color of clothing, hairstyle, hand sign or graffiti.” The purpose of a gang is to engage in criminal activity and which uses violence or intimidation to further its criminal objectives. Gangs come in all different types, there are multiple types of gangs; for example motorcycle gangs, prison gangs, hate groups, adult organized crime groups, terrorist organizations and other types of security threat groups. The reasons people tend to join gangs are lack of jobs, poverty, domestic violence, and lack of education. The most common age for youth to join a gang is between 13 and 15. Youth join gangs for various reasons; money, sense of support and belonging, peer status, and a sense of protection are seemingly provided by the gang. Youth in gangs are more likely to abuse drugs, engage in high risk sexual behaviors, and experience long term health and social consequences. The reason that today’s youth join gangs is because of environmental factors, early academic failure and lack of school attachment, and the portrayal of gangs in media. The family environment is very critical to the upbringing of a child and if problems exist within the family then the child will most likely suffer the consequences. For example growing up in poverty, domestic violence, and lack of parental supervision have been known to cause children to behave outwardly. While growing up in poverty the child will...
Words: 2068 - Pages: 9
...Cognitive, Conscious, Energetic and Behavioral Impact of Violent Video Gaming Experiences Gabriel Aaron Dionne Strayer University English 215 December 11th 2011 Cognitive, Conscious, and Behavioral Impact of Violent Video Gaming Experiences “Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Brainy Quote (2011) Identifies Violence as: The quality or state of being violent; highly excited action, whether physical or moral; vehemence; impetuosity; force. Injury done to that which is entitled to respect, reverence, or observance; profanation; infringement; unjust force; outrage; assault. Ravishment; rape; constupration. To assault; to injure; also, to bring by violence; to compel. This statement gives insight to the ideology of violence being compelled or brought about in an individual through excited actions. The level of violence in video games is astounding not to mention the level of realism which can totally encapsulate you in the gaming experience leaving you feel like that experience was real on a conscious, cognitive, and behavioral level. Long gone are my days of Mario bouncing on mushrooms these days it is assault rifles, hand grenades and tactical missile strikes. Entertainment Software Rating Board (n.d.) provides a list of potential violent behaviors that may be found within our children’s gaming experience and it...
Words: 3779 - Pages: 16
...video games can be beneficial. A lot of people are led to believe that video games make people violent and cause crimes. Even though millions of people are playing violent video games, mass killings are still a statistical anomaly. Politicians and the media utilize the controversy of violent video games for their own interests rather than those of the public. Video games are a form of creative expression and should not be demonized or used as a scapegoat for our population’s deeper mental traumas. Video games have positive effects. A study conducted by Shawn Green & Daphne Bavelier from Center Visual Science, University of Rochester, show that people who play a lot of action video games benefit from improved “hand-eye coordination and visuo-motor skills, such as resistance to distraction, sensitivity to information in the peripheral vision and ability to count briefly presented objects, than non-players” (“Action video game modifies visual selective attention”). Video games that incorporate advanced motion detection, such as Microsoft’s Kinect or Sony’s PlayStation Move, provide both physical and mental exercise. Furthermore, a study conducted by Doctor Cheryl K. Olson, co-director of the Center for Mental Health and Media, indicates that “contrary to the stereotype of the solitary gamer with no social skills, we found that children who play M-rated games are actually more likely to play in groups- in the same room, or over the Internet” .For example, Robert Chambers was...
Words: 1167 - Pages: 5
