Violent Media Is Good For Kids (Con)
Violent media has been proven to cause a child to become aggressive. Media such as video games, television and internet all contain violence that is shown to the public for entertainment. Younger children have cartoons on television that contain explosions and they look up to these animations wishing they can duplicate the cartoons actions. Older children have a tendency to want to play video games and most of these are full of violent media. The most popular games are fighting and shooting games. These older children might have siblings that want to be just like their older brother or sister and begin to have a negative impact caused by the type of media they watch. The internet contains unlimited data,
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If children are not taught that there are consequences in real life that there are not in video games or television, they might want to duplicate the actions they are shown. “An eight year old Louisiana boy intentionally shot and killed his elderly caregiver after playing a violent videogame, authorities say” (Russel, 2013, p.1). Video games are violent, children play video games, therefore children are violent. It takes an authority to teach the child what is wrong and right. “Violent video games are an ideal environment in which to learn violence” (Eakes, 2014). Giving the child a certain time to play is also a problem caused by the parent. Kids play games with guns and explosions and this attracts their attention. Children now a days believe video games and electronics are their life. As Emmons (2013) noted “Julian turned everything into a pretend gun and started running around the house like a pint-size Han Solo taking down Storm Troopers” (p.1). Violent media caused Julian to make a pretend gun and shoot his targets. This type of media can influence him to want a real gun and shoot real people as I mentioned earlier with the eight year old Louisiana boy. Violent media has such a great impact on children that some people might not see. if they see a movie and the main character steals something, then the child would want to also get an item that they might not have. Children that do not have what others do …show more content…
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In “Violent Media is Good for Kids” Gerard Jones introduces us to his fearful and lonesome childhood. He lived in a world where he was taught to be the violence fearing, and passive boy his parents wanted him to be. But, when one of his mother’s students gave him a Marvel comic book, his fearfulness was transformed into inspiration. He found a way to escape these discouraging feelings through the “stifled rage and desire for power” (Jones 285) that he had newly found. The popular comic book hero “The Hulk” freed him from his passive and lonely persona. Throughout the article he cites his testimonies and the testimonies of others as examples; and shows how they used violence as a positive realm for “overcoming powerlessness.” (Jones 287) Ultimately, Jones is trying to convey the message that violent media can provide kids with psychological tools for coping with the problems that they face as they grow. Although there are slight hints of biased evidence, “Violent Media is Good for Kids” should be considered for the top prize for persuasive essays.
The controversy over whether or not violence portrayed on television actually affects children or not has been playing itself out for nearly three decades. When some of the first results came out in the 60s and 70s that made the first connections between aggressive behavior and viewing televised violence, the TV and movie industries denied that there was a connection. When studies found the same thing in the 80s, the FCC opposed any regulation (Hepburn). A writer for Direct Ma...
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Have you ever looked at someone and thought, I wonder what made him/her the way she is today?” When you do this, you often have to look back on a person’s childhood. How did certain events affect them? Over time violence has become dramatically evident is children’s lives. Parents do not seem to be careful with their children’s viewing habits. They are beginning to let them watch whatever is on TV. For example: Family guy, all those shows on Adult swim. These violent TV programs could cause so many problems for the children and parents later on in life. Parents should carefully monitor children’s viewing habits so they have limited exposure to violence, increase their physical activity, and decrease aggressive behavior.
The AAP suggest aggressive conduct, depression, sleep disturbances, fear, and desensitisation to violence are evident when children are exposed to violence through the media or video games. In agreeance with Bandura et al. findings, The AAP explain children are strongly influenced by the media through modelling and observing behaviours and aggressive behaviours are learned and imitated. Moreover, they argue children under the age of eight years old can not discriminate between fantasy and reality, which leaves them open to being extremely susceptible of adopting attitudes and behaviours portrayed in the media. Adding weight to their argument, The AAP discuss experimental studies that show after playing video games, children display significant decreases in social and helping conduct and an increase in aggressive and violent stimulation and retribution. As a result, The AAP strongly advocate that only child positive games and media content should be available rather than censorship. These findings are in line with Bandura et al. findings in that exposure to aggressive behaviour is imitated by children through social
Leung, R. (2009, February 11). Can a video game lead to murder?. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-702599.html
By raising kids in a society where killing people on the TV is ok, it could cause some problems in the long run. When you shoot at someone in a video game, respond unharmed, but when you shoot at someone in real life, they are gone forever. Because of the easy availability of video games to children, more children have become involved in violent crimes. Violent video games allow the use of violence while hiding realistic consequences (Funk 2). Even though violent video games may lead to violence in real life, video games can still serve as learning tools.... ...
American Psychological Association. "Violence on Television. What Do Children Learn? What Can Parents Do?" APA Online. www.apa.org/publicinfo/violence.html. Accessed October 23, 2001.
Television violence causes destructive behavior in children, however; television can be a powerful influence to young viewers in our society. Unfortunately, much of today's television programming are very violent. Many researchers like scientists, pediatricians, and child researchers in many countries have studied to find out what it is about television violence that makes it such a big affect on the way kids act and behave. Sometimes, children think that is a normal thing in our real life, by watching only a single violent program, which can increase aggressiveness on children and become violent, aggressive, and vicious.
2007. Opposing Viewpoints. . Freedman, Jonathan. "Television Violence Does Not Contribute to Aggressive Behavior in Young People."
Furthermore, television violence causes aggressive behavior in children. Many people believe that children who watch violent television programs exhibit more aggressive behavior than that exhibited by children who do not (Kinnear 23). According to the results of many studies and reports, violence on television can lead to aggressive behavior in children (Langone 50). Also, when television was introduced into a community of children for the first time, researchers observed a rise in the level of physical and verbal aggression among these children (Langone 51). The more television violence viewed by a child, the more aggressive the child is (“Children” 1).
Kalin, Carla. Television, Violence, and Children. Media Literacy Review. University of Oregon College of Education, 10 May 2003. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.