The truth about Media and Violence

for Parents

What the people want you to think: The media (which includes: TV, radio, internet), is a direct cause of violence in children.  There should be constraints that stop our young people from viewing such media.

note: video games and violence will be covered in a later article

The Truth: O.K. This is a first, I happen to agree with part of what the people say.  Before I dive further into the matter, one must understand the correlation scale:

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-1.0                                0                                   +1.0               

-1.0 means that there is no relation between media violence and actual aggression.  A 0 means that the relation between media violence and actual aggression is undetermined, and a +1.0 means that there is a definite relation between media violence and actual aggression.  Now the part I agree with is that there is a relation between media violence and actual aggression (psychologists also agree: they found that the correlation between media and aggression is +.94).  Here's what I don't agree with: We should put actual physical constraints on media.  It takes just a little common sense to figure out that to curb violence in adolescence, you must not let them partake in any violent media.  So don't go out and buy them "Scarface" on DVD or show them to a website condoning violence against anyone (Neo-Nazis and other types).  So in this case the constraint shouldn't be a v-chip in your TV, it should be you, the parent.  Now I understand the internet problem: you cannot monitor your child's internet browsing all the time.  In that case I am all for using stuff like NetNanny or CyberPatrol to limit the amount of time the spend online or block certain websites all together.  Here's where I rant: Stop blaming media for all violence (granted the media does put out some pretty violent shi----tuff), start looking at what you are subjecting your child to.  If you routinely let them watch violent shows like pro wrestling (ok, I love pro. wrestling but its not for young people 14 or under, they may try and imitate the moves), or take them to R rated movies, or let them listen to overly violent music (gangsta rap, I'm talking to you.).  Just because the media puts out such stuff, doesn't give you a free pass to immerse them in it.  Once your children are older (teens for example) they begin to acquire taste, if you guide them correctly, they won't be too much into the violent stuff.  Granted they may wander into it (example: buying Eminem CDs or watching a violent movies) but by that time, they no longer will associate media violence to being aggressive.  Side note: why do you think GTA: Vice City is marketed to such older people?

Final Summation: There is a correlation between media and aggression (+.94) so aggression can be tied to viewing violent content, but control lies not through software or chips, but in proper parenting.

note: I am not a parent, nor am I a psychologist, all this data comes from me listening to individuals that are parents and to other people that I consider to be experts.