by Larry Lounsbury

Created on: June 13, 2009

Abstract

Young children are in the process of learning about who they are as individuals and as members of a broader society, about how they are alike an different from other people and about how people of diverse backgrounds and experience treat each other. Television has the potential to expose children to diverse people and to show them how people can respect and learn from each other. Unfortunately many children's television programs promote suspicion, intolerance and even violence against those who are different. Racial and ethnic stereotypes are common. Much of the TV that young children see today impedes their ability to develop an appreciation and respect for differences among people. Few models are presented that show how differences among people can enhance human experience or broaden horizons. I will discuss three different aspects of child development, all of which are related in some way to how the media portrays people and events. The fourth article will discuss how reading problems can develop in children in higher grades, and what can be done to help these children.

Exposure to Media Violence Increases the Likelihood of Young Adult Aggressive Behavior.

Psychologists L.Rowell Huesmann, Ph.D., Jessica Moise-Titus, Pd.D., Cheryl-Lynn Podolski, M.A., and Leonards D. Eron, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan did a follow-up of a 1977 longitudinal study of 557 children, ages 6-10, growing up in the Chicago area. In that study, children identified which violent television shows they watched most, and whether they thought the violent situations were realistic.

The current study re-surveyed 329 of the original boys and girls who are now in their 20s. The participants were asked about their favorite television programs as adults and about their aggressive behaviors. The participants spouses and friends were also interviewed and were asked to rate the participant's frequency of engaging in aggressive behavior. The researchers also obtained data on the participants form the state archives, including criminal convictions and moving traffic violations.

The results of this survey showed that men who viewed a lot of television violence as children were significantly more likely to have pushed, grabbed, or shoved their spouses. These men were also more likely to respond to insults by shoving the person. They were also convicted of crimes and moving traffic violations at three times the rate of other men.

The results for

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next Page >>