The Impact of Entertainment Media Violence on Children and Families

1
The Impact of Entertainment Media Violence on
Children and Families

• Child Psychology I

2
Types of Violence in the Media

• Violence with a weapon
• Violence without a weapon
• Crashes and explosions
• Verbal violence

3
By the time the average American child graduates
from elementary school, he or she will have seen
more than 8,000 murders and more than 100,000
other assorted acts of violence (e.g., assaults)
on network television (American Psychological
Assocation,1992).
4
National TV Violence Study (1996-1998) 8,000 hrs
of TV analyzed

• 60 of programs were violent.
• "Good" characters perpetrated nearly 40 of the
  violent acts.
• 40 of the violent acts perpetrated by "bad"
  characters went unpunished.

5
National TV Violence Study (1996-1998) 8,000 hrs
of TV analyzed

• 75 of the perpetrators showed no remorse.
• Over 50 of the victims showed no pain or
  suffering.

6
National TV Violence Study (1996-1998) 8,000 hrs
of TV analyzed

• 35 of victims experienced unrealistically low
  levels of harm.
• 15 of the violent programs portrayed long-term
  consequences (e.g., to the victims family).
• 50 of the violent scenes were lethal, 40 were
  portrayed as humorous.

7
What makes observational learning more likely?

• Repeated exposure is the 1 factor!
• However, the effects of media violence may be
  increased or decreased by
• Characteristics of the individual viewer and the
  environment
• Characteristics of the media presentation and how
  the viewer perceives it

8
Individual and EnvironmentalRisk Factors

• Age Media violence affects kids 2-11 the most
• Gender Media violence affects both boys and
  girls
• Family Co-viewing, discussion, and anti-violence
  norms reduce effect
• Cultural and gender role norms Can reduce or
  increase effect

9
Individual and EnvironmentalRisk Factors

• Existing Aggressiveness Media violence affects
  aggressive and non aggressive kids
• Intellectual ability Media violence affects both
  high and low IQ kids
• Social class Media violence affects upper and
  lower class kids, but lower class kids watch more
  media violence

10
Characteristics of Program that Affect Risk

• Identification with aggressor Effects are larger
  for violent behaviors committed by charismatic
  heroes with whom the viewer identifies
• Perceived realism of aggression Effects are
  larger when violent shows are perceived as
  telling about life like it really is

11
Characteristics of Program that Affect Risk

• Consequences of aggressive act Effects are
  larger when aggressor is rewarded for his/her
  actions
• Justifiability of aggressive act Effects are
  larger when aggression is portrayed as justified
• Attention to scene Effects are larger when
  viewers attention is riveted on scene

12
Video Clips

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vDj0ybgDDIpg
• http//spongebob.nick.com/videos/play/summer-job-f
  ull-episode/
• http//pbskids.org/video/