The Negative Impact of Exposing Children to Media Violence Essay

The Negative Impact of Exposing infantren to Media ViolenceOn April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School, 13 people were killed and another 23 were wounded in one of the worst school killing incidents constantly (Skeesis). Since the 1980s, overall homicide rates in the U.S. moderate declined. However, homicide rates for ages 14-17 have change magnitude quite dramatically during this time period (Fox). Among other numerous electromotive force causes, force out in the media may play a role in this sum up in youth violence. Today, there is much controversy over the potential harmful effects of media violence on childrens lives. I believe that exposure of children to media violence is harmful.For the purposes of this paper, I forget limit the exposition of (mass) media to television, and, subsequently, violent (mass) media to television programs that contain violent acts. By children, I lead be referring to people of age 18 and below who live in the U.S., since this group is the focus of the majority of the research data that I have used. I will begin my argument by acknowledging a foreknow argument to my position. I will then go on to debate the negative effects of television on children. These effects include an increase in aggressive tendencies and an instilling of the idea that violence will go unpunished. Also included are the concepts of desensitization and stimulus addiction. Finally, I will discuss some potential solutions to the problem of television violence bear upon our children.Granted, people are correct in saying that television violence has been around for decades. In fact, public violence has been around for centuries. In superannuated times, many cultures made gruesome public executions or sacrifices. During the Middle Ages, undefiled villag... ...per impact than you realize. And what respectable parents would want their child to end up reenacting a scene from HBOs Oz on his or her classmates?Works CitedAmerican psychiatric Associati on. Psychiatric Effects of Media Violence. http//www.psych.org/psych/htdocs/public_info/media_violence.html (17 Oct. 2000).Berkebile, Nicole, Julie Newman, and Susan Parker. The Effects of Television on a Childs Development. 1995. http//www.richmond.edu/psych/tvmain.html (17 Oct. 2000).Fox, James A. Trends in Juvenile Violence 1997 Update. 1997. http//www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/tjv97up.pdf (17 Oct. 2000).Skeesis. The catastrophe at Columbine High. 17 May 1999. http//www.angelfire.com/tx2/coroner/columbin.html (17 Oct. 2000).Video gritty Violence. Feb. 2000. http//www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/champaign/connections/0002-family4.html (17 Oct. 2000).