Media Violence: Impact on Children and Families

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Media ViolenceImpact on Children and Families

• Debbie Richardson, M.S.
• Child Development Assistant Specialist
• March 5, 2005
• OK Assoc. of Family Consumer Sciences
  Conference

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Media Virtual Violence

• Television all types of programs including
  news, reality shows, music videos, commercials,
  sports, etc.
• Movies
• Video and Computer Games
• Internet
• Other types include music, toys, comic books

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An Average American Child

• Spends
• 28 hours a week with TV
• 30 hours a week in a classroom
• 39 minutes a week talking oneonone with a
  parent
• By high school graduation
• Spends18,000 hours in front of a TV set, and only
  13,000 hours in a classroom
• Observes 200,000 violent acts and 16,000 murders

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Research

• Over 4,000 studies have examined the correlation
  of television violence and violent behavior in
  children.
• These studies make a compelling case for a
  significant impact.

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How is Media Violence Portrayed?

• Clean lack of blood, minimal suffering,
  invincible cartoon characters.
• Frequently rewarded or unpunished.
• Clear boundaries between good guy/bad guy.
• Aggressors are portrayed as attractive.
• Conveys violence is justified.
• Humor may be used.
• Pleasurable Make My Day.

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Childrens TV Programming

• Violence is more prevalent and concentrated in
  programs targeted to viewers under age 13
• 79 of childrens programs contain humorous
  violence.

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The Influence of Media on Children

• Dramatically influences children at all ages.
• Children are physically passive, yet mentally
  alert when watching TV.
• Repetition the violence becomes so familiar
  that it becomes normal.
• Reduced boundaries between adult and child
  knowledge.
• Both quantity and quality matter.

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Young children under age 8

• Often believe in magical and supernatural
  creatures and powers.
• Can be swayed by how things appear rather than
  how things really are.
• Generally judge characters or actions as real
  simply due to observing through TVs magic
  window.
• Readily imitate violent cartoon characters.

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Young children who view too much media violence..

• Begin to see violence as an acceptable way of
  resolving conflict, using physical or verbal
  abuse toward other children.
• May become less sensitive to the pain and
  suffering of others.
• May see others as enemies, rather than like
  themselves.
• Natural anxieties may be magnified.

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Young children who view too much media violence..

• May have more difficulty getting along with
  others, responding with kindness, and developing
  playmates.
• Hear limited language and communication skills to
  talk about problems and how to solve.
• Limits their imaginations encourages imitation
  play rather than creative play.

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Four LongTerm Effects of Viewing Violence

• Most people do not become violent when they
• watch violence. But they may be affected in
• these ways.
• Aggressor Effect
• Victim Effect
• Bystander Effect
• Appetite Effect

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A 17 year study of 700 children found that at age
14.

• Involved in Aggressive
• acts by ages 16 22
• 5.7
• 22.5
• 28.8

• Daily TV Viewing
• less than 1 hour
• 1 3 hours
• more than 3 hours

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Heavy Viewers of TV

• Kids watching 4 or more hours
• per day
• Put in less effort on school work
• Have poorer reading skills
• Play less well with friends
• Have fewer hobbies and activities
• More likely to be overweight

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TV Ratings

• TV-Y All Children Designed for young audience,
  including children ages 2-6.
• TV-Y7 For age 7 and up. More appropriate for
  children with skills to distinguish between
  make-believe and reality. May include mild
  fantasy or comedic violence, or may frighten
  children under the age of 7.
• TV-Y7-FV Fantasy Violence May be more intense or
  combative.
• TV-G General Audience Usually appropriate for
  all ages. Contains little or no violence, no
  strong language, and little or no sexual dialogue
  or situations.
• TV-PG Parental Guidance Suggested May be
  unsuitable for younger children. Contains
  moderate violence (V), some sexual situations
  (S), infrequent coarse language (L), and/or
  suggestive dialogue (D).
• TV-14 Parents Strongly Cautioned Recommended
  children under 14 not watch unattended. Contains
  intense violence (V), intense sexual situations
  (S), strong coarse language (L), and/or intensely
  suggestive dialogue (D).
• TV-MA Mature Audience Only Designed for adults
  and may be unsuitable for children under 17.
  Contains graphic violence (V), explicit sexual
  activity (S), and/or crude indecent language (L).
  

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Not All Entertainment Media is Negative

• There is strong evidence that childrens shows
  developed to teach academic and social skills can
  help children learn effectively.

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TV Tips to Reduce Violence

• Plan family viewing give children a choice to
  watch
• Remove the TV from a childs bedroom
• Offer other options play games, read, be
  creative and active
• Be informed about program ratings and content
• Watch with children and talk about the programs
• Point out that real violence results in pain or
  death
• Change the channel or turn off the TV when
  offensive material comes on. Explain why.

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VIDEO GAMES
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Use of Video Games

• 67 of households with children own video game
  systems.
• At least half of U.S. children are now using the
  Internet for homework, games, and entertainment.
• Violent themes compose 60 90 of the most
  popular video games.
• 90 of 4th graders and 75 of 8th graders report
  playing 1 or more hours per week either at home
  or arcades.

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Video Games

• Games are increasingly more violent, lifelike,
  and accurate in depictions of violence.
• Playing video games allows practice of violence
  in ways TV does not.
• Some are used for training by military and law
  enforcement.
• Most retailers make little effort to restrict
  sales of maturerated games to minors.

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ESRB Ratings

• Entertainment Software Rating Board
• EC Early Childhood (ages 3)
• E Everyone (ages 6)
• T Teen (ages 13)
• M Mature (ages 17)
• A Adults only
• RP Rating Pending

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Video Game Content Labels

• A study of 396 mainstream T-rated video game
  labels in
• 2001 indicated
• 94 had violent content
• 15 contained sexual themes
• 14 used profanity
• A random sample of 81 of these games comparing
  the
• actual content to the labels indicated
• 20 with sexual content including partial nudity
  had a notation on the label
• 17 with profanity had a notation on the label

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Tips for Electronic Games

• Know the content and procedures of games.
• Pay attention to ratings.
• Require parental permission to purchase or rent.
• Discuss game content with children.
• Observe children playing periodically play
  along.
• Establish clear playing guidelines time limits.
• Assure adult supervision for arcade game playing.
• Select games that promote problem solving, skill
  building, and cooperation, rather than violence.

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Media Literacy Be a Critical Viewer

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Be Media Literate

• Be a wise consumer.
• Watch programs and play video games with the
  child, and discuss what is seen.
• Monitor and limit access to violent programs and
  games. Explain why they are harmful.
• Select programs and games that promote problem
  solving, cooperation and learning.

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Be Media Literate

• Be cautious of heavily advertised products and
  toys linked with violent programs.
• Contact TV stations/producers to express
  opinions, when offended and when pleased.
• Help educate others in the community.
• To offset peer pressure, contact other parents
  agree to enforce similar rules.

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Help children understand

• Real life violence hurts people.
• Real weapons hurt or kill people.
• If a show is scary or confusing, they can talk to
  an adult about it.
• Violent toys, shows, games may seem exciting in
  pretend, but reallife violence is not fun.

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• Debbie Richardson, M.S.
• Child Development Assistant Specialist
• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
• 405-744-6231
• debbie.richardson_at_okstate.edu
• www.fcs.okstate.edu