Does violence on television encourage negative behaviour in children?

Answer 1

.....Children are influenced by many sources...teachers, coaches, friends, parents, video games... Certainly TV is one of them. It is absurd to suggest that none of the violent characters are ever adopted as role models or that none of the violent scenarios are remembered as possible courses of action.

Answer 2

While it has been proven that children learn through modeling there are a few things that determine this.
They must-
1. Remember the behavior
2. able to do the behavior
similiarity and outcome to the model is also a factor.
Maybe it does, however, if it was that cut and dried then our parents would have had more problems-they grew up watching Cowboys and indians movies as well as watching Popeye and Bluto beat on each other. There was violence long before television.
Parents lack of parenting encourages negative behavior more.
--> I grew up watching Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street and when I was a toddler I watched Tom & Jerry, I didn't turn out to be a murderer nor am I violent. My parents taught me that Television was fake and that I wasn't to repeat what I've seen.

Answer 3

I think a child seeing that which isn't entertainment condoning or blame-shifting their behavior to another is what plays a huge role when considering an adult-child who never grows up starting with real life. Real life where a child is lacking discipline/guidance due to too many child-adults in their life passing the child's personal responsibilities off or the issue of "rescuing" from personal responsibility.

We can only assume (wrong approach) that murder and sex on TV isn't being seen by the adult authorities in the home as purely entertainment or isn't being shut off all together in homes. Keep in mind children know what a movie and the television is. They also know what a game console is. Now consider people in their lives that begin to mimic those I just mentioned and the willingness of the child to mimic that also. There has to be some point of personal responsibility in people's real life and where is that suppose to come from? I beg to differ that it ends with the parents. I'm not sure that blaming entertainment on children's behavior isn't passing the buck and it's possible that children are piped into this as well - something else that gets them off the hook or at least suggesting the drive to obsess with getting away with negative behavior. We also have to consider the times that there was no such thing as tv and the population number being low but yet the same problems took place - what's up that? Yes, my grandfather would have a pitch fit he saw what was on TV these days but he'd also be sickened by the actions within families and society as well.

Answer 4

I think that in some cases, like cartoons, it teaches naive young children that no matter what, you can not die. I feel that there are ratings on TV and movies for a reason. If the PARENTS don't sit their children down and explain to them that what they are seeing is wrong and that they should never do that more than likely the children will learn to differentiate from fake and real life. I think young children shouldn't see violence on TV or movies- PERIOD, but sometimes it can't be helped, that's where you as a parent should step in.

Answer 5

You know, that's maybe the best question I've heard asked here. You're probably going to get a ton of answers, but here's my take.

I believe we're influenced by first, the environment in which we're raised. Secondly, by what we see. Thirdly, by what we experience.

I think that if we're raised in a caring, loving family environment, we're less apt (not completely, though) to exhibit violent tendencies later in life. That's a real problem for many people, though, because the family concept has definitely eroded. Strike one.

When our children are young and impressionable, if we permit them to believe that EVERYTHING they see on television is real, then I believe some of the violence that is aired can be harmful. It's a fine line what to allow children to watch.

Finally, what we experience (parents fighting, observing people getting away with violent acts, getting away with things ourselves) inflence us even as children and can potentially carry into our adult life.

I really don't think television by itself should shoulder most of the blame. It starts somewhere else. If art imitates life, maybe society should change and then we'll see art (television) change.

Answer 6

Violence on TV helps shape a young child's behavior if they are subjected to it repeatedly, but it is not the only thing. It becomes a learned behavior especially if no one is expressing to them that certain behavior is inappropriate or not accepted. It is the same if a child sees violence in the home, they will hit at school. Some kids do negative things to receive attention and may very well not look at what they are doing as inappropriate.

Answer 7

I don't thinks so. I played Grand Theft Auto 3 for about 2 months straight every night after school. I was not affected by it. If you have a good parent that can explain the difference between TV and real life, then the child should be just fine. The parents have to be vigilant about what their child is watching and doing. It all involves a little effort.

Answer 8

Negative behaviour is a very vague term. I would suggest that the continual exposure to violence on television makes us all numb to it, and we lose our sensitivity to it - little by little. The effect that this has on us is yet to be proven, but I would suggest that we value human life a little less.

Answer 9

To put it another way ... I can't believe that violence on television ever reduces negative behaviour in children.

Answer 10

I believe so. I believe too, that it desensitises children to the effects of violence.
There will be many who say that old fashioned shows like Punch and Judy never did any harm. But I think that modern graphics, etc blur the line between reality and entertainment.

Answer 11

If advertisers spend multi-millions of dollars to encourage people to buy their product based on what they see for 30 seconds on TV, logic would follow that kids watching TV would also be influenced by what they see.