Can Violence on Television Cause Aggressive Behavior? Television can be a powerful influence

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Staci Brooks

Can Violence on Television Cause Aggressive Behavior?

Television can be a powerful influence in developing value systems and shaping behavior; The violence that children are constantly subjected to on television can have very harmful affects if not monitored carefully. More and more often parents are using television as a means of entertaining their children when they are unable to, and the amount of television that children are watching is a growing concern in our society. While a large part of the concern is the quantity of television that young people are viewing, a more pressing issue is the quality that is offered to them. While cartoons may seem to be harmless and humorous, that is not always the case. A good portion of the violence that is on television is captured in Saturday morning cartoons, when children are most likely to be captivated by them. This proves to be highly dangerous with young minds because some children at tender ages are unable to understand or grasp the concept of reality versus fantasy. This leaves children at risk of understanding cartoons to be real life and 'copy catting' their heroes, that were praised for their actions.

As society begins to realize the full impact of violence on television for young children they are starting to work towards making parents more aware of what their child is viewing while they are out of the room. Because every child and every household is different it is difficult to measure how a single child will be impacted, by viewing excessive violence on the screen. This is why it is imperative that parents are the ones to take responsibility for what their child is viewing as they are growing up, so that they are not negatively subjected to anything that they are not yet prepared for. Television can be a very suggestive influence that should not be taken lightly when young children are concerned. In the average home it is more unusual to find a family without a television then is it is to find one with more than one (Budd, p98). Children between the ages of three and four on average watch approximately four hours of television a day (number 3). This is a large amount and takes time from other activities that would be more beneficial to these children when their minds are in the stages of growth. If a child is inside in front of their television set they are not outside socializing with other children their own age, or spending time with their family doing other activities to stimulate their minds. It is important to realize that children are not born with their personalities and their values, but rather they develop them with the help of their surroundings and environment. If a child is learning these values from a character on a show, a parent cannot always be sure what morals a child is going to pick up.
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Society is beginning to recognize the need to monitor the amount of television a child is watching because of the situations it may demonstrate to younger generations. When parents simply sit their child down in front of the screen they are letting characters do part of the raising and they cannot be completely aware of exactly what is being taught. Nor do people realize the amount of violence that is portrayed to children during their normal daytime television.

"By the age of 18 the average American child will have viewed 200, 000 acts of violence on ...

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