Does television make children more violent?

Question

Do you think if young kids or children watch violent movies they will become more violent? How do you think it affects them? Do you think it affects them?

Answer 1

Yup. Absolutely. There have been piles of long term studies on this.

The results were one of the reason for having channels with content only for little ones with commercials that were also age appropriate.

Answer 2

I think it really depends on the parents and the child.
I have a son 14 that will only want to watch violent movies, play violent games ect. He is a violent child. We wouldnt let him watch these or play these games and it became a obession of his to sneak and lie to get to watch this crap.
my 12 year old could play one these games or see the same movie and have no effect at all.
It all depends on how parents watch behavior and notice when it effects children, and to know if a child has the maturity to understand this is a movie or game and that this is not real or real people should not act this way.
I mean this is a very hard task to follow through on in today's world as most shows show something that really isnt approiate for children in some way or another.
Bugs bunny ws always being chased by the guy that wanted to eat him and kill him. We see cartoons harmless becasue they arent people but children still see these as people and it can become violent.
But sometimes violent shows could be use as a educational thing as far as we dont do things like this becasue look at the outcomes. For instance I watch a lot of crime shows, I have always been interested in the foresnics of cases, it intrigues me but it shows how these bad people think they have commited the perfect crime and they get busted, I let my kids watch these to show them they are never beyond the law.

I think as parents we need to watch shows more with our children and explain the types of violent that we see and why these behaviors aren't approiate. We have to educate our children instead of harboring what they see becasue at some time or another we cant prevent them from always seeing this kinda of stuff.

Answer 3

I think it's just an easy way to blame something else for a child's behavior. Just like people blame fast food restaurants on people being overweight.

I think as long as the parenting is good, and the kids are taught right from wrong, then it's not such a bad thing to watch those movies. Remember that if they are completely banned, the first thing a kid is going to do when they are old enough to go by themselves is to watch these movies. Theres no point in wrapping them up in cotton wool, because it will all come undone at some stage.

Answer 4

I think it can effect them, but some kids are more likely to be violent than others, and some home lives encourage or discourage it more than others.

I'm relatively picky about what my kids, the five-year-old in particular, watch and play. But he loves Power Rangers, TMNT, Spider-man, Batman, etc., and there is violence in even those shows. However, personality-wise, he doesn't have it in him to hurt a fly. He'll sometimes "play" at fighting, but he doesn't even come into any physical contact with someone (he was playing "Star Wars" the other day, which consisted of holding his hands up and running around yelling "DARTH VADER! DARTH VADER!")

I don't watch violent stuff, I'm more of a chick flick kinda girl. The exceptions, though, are really graphic -- I'm interested in WWII, in particular the Holocaust, and there's just no way to watch a movie about it without violence. So it doesn't come on until he goes to sleep. When he walks in, it's paused.

He seems to be okay.

Answer 5

It depends on the child. A small child (3-10) may immitate what they see, but a 14 year old that watches a violent movie will know its fake and its all entertainment.

My 14 year old son watches nothing besides movies like A clockwork orange, pulp fiction and all those movies. He does like them, it does not affect him in any way.

He just like watching gore and horror movie for pure entertainment.

It won't affect older viewers.

Answer 6

everything effects them, does it make them violent no but is does not help, thats why young children should watch PBS and rated G movies, PG at age 13 with a parent and so on but people are too often ignoring these safeguards

Answer 7

Yes, kids love to imitate their favorite characters from movies and TV. Whether it's Tigger and his bouncing or some scary character, they act it out. If that means attacking their baby sister because she's the "bad guy" they'll do it. I've seen little boys re-enact entire Spiderman movies in great detail, climbing on tables and furniture just like Spidey.

My favorite was when I was babysitting a young boy ran around the room at top speed around and around and around just like Roger Rabbit.

Be careful what you let your kids watch because they'll remember and want to act it out.

Answer 8

I think that children emulate what they see....at home, at school, on tv, etc.
TV is not the real culprit....it is the choice of the viewer that is to blame. Choose wisely.
My nieces became very sassy after watching the Nick shows...it was written for children, but we didn't like the behavior....just because it is "for" children doesn't mean it is the right choice.

I have taught children for over 20 years...I've seen Ninja Turtles and many other characters on the playground...again choose wisely.

Answer 9

To a certain level it does have an affect but I think if you reinforce and talk to them about what they saw/ whats right and wrong then they can decide for themselves what kind of person they want to be. No matter what they watch good/bad talking to them can solve a lot of problems.

Answer 10

Take your kids and let them watch a Jackie Chan movie then let them go outside and play or in another room and see what happens.Then, try letting them watch something that isnt violent and observe their behavior afterwards.Do NOT let them know what you are doing and wait a week in between movies.

Answer 11

Parents are too quick to blame. Teach them right from wrong, and teach them that TV and video games are not real, and its not ok to act that way.

My son is 15, very calm, sweet, helpful kid. He always loved fighting movies, power rangers, vampire movies, ect.... and he does not act out what he sees.