Assignment 5-1: Weekly Analysis

A popular culture topic that interests me is the debate over whether or not violence in the media causes children to become violent. For a long time, people have been saying that when children watch their favorite celebrities or heroes on television, movies, or in video games using violence against other people, it makes them want to emulate the characters they see. Children are easily influenced, but do the media really play a part in the increased aggression seen in today’s children?

According to Cecilia von Feilitzen (Stockholm University, Sweden), cited by Faith McLellan (2002), in “Do Violent Movies Make Violent Children?,” “ ‘in the short and long term, media violence contributes to aggression, she said, statistical studies show it can explain only about 5–10% of children's aggression.’ Family, schools, personality, and society are far more important influences, contributing to 90–95% of aggression” (502). McLellan is saying that although violence in the media does account for some of the aggression children express, other factors play a much bigger role.

William Triplett (2007), author of “TV Not to Blame for Violence, Study Says,” explains that a new study has come out that says there is not a link between violence in the media and violent children. The real culprit is simply a lack of social skills. Triplett says that “All babies are born with violent tendencies, which most kids learn to control as they grow older… Those who don’t or can’t learn are the ones who become violent” (n.p.). An interesting point brought up in this article is that kids were violent even before TV, movies, and videogames were invented.

I believe that the media does account for some of the aggression seen in today’s youth. It is hard to ignore the fact that kids are absorbing what they see on TV. They play a video game in which they go around killing people, and then get up and punch their brother. I think the media does get into children’s heads and they feel like violence is normal; it is just a part of life.


Refernces

McLellan, F. (2002). Do violent movies make violent children? The Lancelot, 359, p. 502. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T1B-454J85D-V&_user=4992855&_coverDate=02%2F09%2F2002&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000062855&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=4992855&md5=bfcce5781fa31362af4ab71c3c5f8e83.

Triplett, W. (2007). TV not to blame for violence, study says. Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974404.h