Effect Of Media Violence On Youth Behavior

Television Violence and Its Effect on Youth Behavior

In this paper we will explore the influence of violent media and its effects on youth’s behavior. More specifically, the presence/exposure of violent media to youths can increase their likelihood of engaging in violent behavior or tendencies. I have included 3 studies, empirical journals which ultimately will support my theory that violent media (specifically television shows) can negatively affect and increase a child/adolescents behavior to become more aggressive and possibly violent. It is true that some youths may have a better foundation and resilience when viewing violent media, although that is not the case for most. Youths that have been regularly exposed to violent media have

This journal consist of six experiments (each by their own perspective researcher), although only three were related to youth aggression. With that being the case, I will only be referencing the three experiments which pertain to media violence in its influence towards youth aggression. This first journal will lay the groundwork for my next two empirical journals that are to follow. I believe that this provides us with a generalized understanding of media 's effect on youths in various environments/environmental settings, and backgrounds. I would also like to note that the studies were all experimental and observational, and provides us with quantitative data which supports my claim that violent media does have an effect on youth

In the study by Bjorkqvist (1985), selected Finnish children between the ages of 5 and 6 were exposed to either violent or nonviolent films. After which their behaviors were rated by two individuals who had no idea which film the children had viewed. The children were observed as they were playing together in a room. Their findings concluded that those who had just viewed the violent film had higher rating of inflicting physical assault (hitting other children, wrestling, etc.),compared to the children who did not view the violent film. The same type of observational experiment was done by Josephson (1987) where he randomly assigned 396, seven to nine year old boys to watch either a violent or a nonviolent film before playing a game of floor hockey afterwards.They then had observers record the number of times each boy physically attacked another boy during the game, while not knowing which group were exposed to which films. The two experiments thus far prove that exposure to violent media can increase the likelihood of partaking in aggressive behavior. In the 3rd experiment done by Leyens, Camino, Parke, and Berkowitz (1975). They observed a group of boys in their teens in a home for delinquent (in Belgium) and exposed one group to a violent movies every night for five nights, while the other group was not. The boys were observed every evening after the viewing and recorded their interaction. The