Essay, Research Paper: Tv Violence

In California, a seven-year-old boy sprinkled ground-up glass into the lamb stew the family was to eat for dinner. When asked why he did it he replied that he wanted to see if the results would be the same in real life as they were on television. (Howe p.72)
Television violence effects children, whether it is from a movie or a Saturday morning cartoon. Facts have shown children become more violent after watching violent acts on television. Studies have been done that show that the children get more aggressive and also mimic what they watch on the television. The parents should be aware of what their children watch and prevent them from watching any kind of violence on television. Violence on television causes some children to act violently and aggressively, and their parents are to blame.
The violence on television can cause actual violence in a number ways. For example in New York, a 16-year-old boy broke into a cellar. When the police caught him and asked him why he was wearing gloves he replied that, he had learned to wear gloves, so he would not leave fingerprints and that he discovered this on television. In Alabama, a nine-year-old boy received a bad report card from his teacher. He suggested sending the teacher poisoned candy as revenge as he had seen on television the night before (Howe p.72). These two examples show that television violence can directly affect children. Also, once the child has been exposed to television violence for a while the world becomes, dull in comparison and they need to violence in real life, for them to be satisfied (Door p. 127). The children need to create violence, so reality becomes more fun, entertaining and violent like television. Also, a CBC news review, states that Saturday morning cartoons have five to four times more violence in their programs then the programs that air after children are in bed (news review p.21). Cartoons, such as Pok mon and X-Men, that are design for children have many violent acts; which children probably think are right to do and mimic when they get the chance. Television violence makes children behave in a violent manner and some children act in a violent manner and aggressive behavior.
In the same way, violence on television causes children to behave in an aggressive behavior. In a study done by Dr. Albert Bandura', children were shown a film with a child playing with a doll in an aggressive manner. Scenes viewed by the children were that of other children punching, throwing, or kicking the doll. Although the dolls were intended for children to play with in this manner, scientists seemed surprised at the outcome of the test. After viewing these scenes, the children were placed in a room with a doll as well as other toys. The children acted the same as the children they saw on the film (Withey p.125). This demonstrates that when children view violent activity on television, "they become more likely to behave aggressively" (Liebert p.60). After watching any kind of violence on television, if the children are given the opportunity they will imitate what they had seen on television because what they saw was funny and entertaining. Also, another study discovered that children who watch a lot of violence on television agree that, it is ok to hit someone if you are mad at them for a good reason. On the other hand children who did watch as much violence on television, say that problems can be resolved by talking or go to an authority (Cheyney 46). The aggressive children result to violence to solve problems because that is how there television characters handle their problems. Therefore, children can become aggressive from watching shows that contain violence.
Moreover, the parents should be aware of the violence their children watch on the television and prevent them from watching it. The parents should become role models and not watch violent shows, so their kid will not watch them either. Then when the child gets older, he will not watch shows with violence on them. Also the parents can buy the V-chip, this is an electronic device which allows that parents to block out television shows that they feel are inappropriate for their children to watch (internet). This is useful for parents who cannot always be there it make sure that their children are watching the appropriate shows because it will block out any programs that the parents feel their children should not watch. If the parents would take the time to prevent their children from watching violent television programs then the television companies would stop airing television programs that contain violence.
In conclusion, violence on television affects the children and the parents should be aware of that fact and do something to prevent their children from watch such programs. Furthermore, children act in a violent manner, when expose too much violence. Also, they act more aggressively in their behavior and become desensitized from the violence. In summary, violence on television is a problem which parents should recognize, before their children become more violent and aggressive from watching too much violence on television.