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Violent Media Synthesis Essay
Violent Media Synthesis Essay
Andy Hilzinger
Mrs. Cramer
Comp Pd. 8
4 October 2018
Violence and Media: Connection?
Violent media causes extremely violent tendencies in children and teenagers across the
globe. According to many studies done by different research groups with diverse agendas, the
results are seemingly unanimous. Discovering the fact of violent pieces of media causing violent
tendencies in children is a crucial step in the right direction to learning more, as well as putting a
stop to the brutal actions performed my children in the past decade. Overall, research shows that
Since the dawn of most modern-era television, movies, and video games, children have
been the most influenced by these items. A study titled, “Violent Video Games” draws a link
between acts of bullying and violent video games. This study went in depth on different opinions
and data from violent video games, as well as actual results, and compared the two side by side.
The results showed that despite opinions from outside sources, violent video games were shown
to have an overall negative effect on children. This study set out to test the argument that,
“violent video games make for great stress relievers.” The result showed that despite this
argument, most children involved in violent video games daily were caught committing acts such
as bullying and imitating physical violence in school. (Violent Video Games | GALE) The study
also set out to prove that not only were children committing more violent acts, but that they
would become desensitized to violence in the real world. The study states that children at an
extremely young age are still learning the differences between fantasy and reality, causing them
A study at Iowa State University followed the same concept of video games causing
violence. This study used the GAM, which stands for “General Aggression Model”. (Video
Games and Violence | GALE) This study took place over a longer period of time and showed
that the longer the exposure to video games, the more violent children were shown to become.
The APA did a similar study to Iowa State, and they observed the violent tendencies of children
over a longer period of time. However, they could not link violent video games to violent acts of
crime such as burglary. What the APA’s study did discover though, is that children became more
aggressive after playing violent video games. The American Academy of Pediatrics backed this
study as well as plenty of others in saying that violent video games that are bad for children.
Violent video games cause plenty of aggression in children, however it is not only video
games are a risk for the younger generation. Violent movies and TV shows are a contributing
factor as well. In the year 2000, the FTC did research on recent commercials and advertisements
for violent movies and TV shows and found that these advertisements and commercials were
intentionally aimed at a younger audience. The ads were found to be most appealing to those
under 17 years of age, despite their “R” rating. The MPAA, who are responsible for the rating of
these violent movies and television shows, argued with the report from the FTC, and questioned
the validity of the report and the actual definition of violence. They also questioned what should
or should not be rated “R”. Despite the arguments, results are correct in saying that children have
been negatively affected by these scenes of violence. Similarly to violent video games, children
have been shown to act aggressively in response to seeing violent movies and television shows.
In 2008, a man in New York City was arrested for acting out violent scenes in movies.
The man had been reenacting scenes that he had seen in movies for one reason or another. What
Hilzinger 3
got him arrested was his reenactment of “Nightmare on Elm Street,” where he attacked his
roommate unprovoked. This report shows that not even adults are safe from the influence of
violent television and movies. If adults cannot be stopped from acting out scenes from violent
movies, how can children be expected to act the same? (Man allegedly acts out violent movies |
UPI Newstrack)
One more grand link between aggression and violent television comes from the Panel
Study of Income Dynamics. This 40-year study of 8000 United States families studied the
programming that young boys and girls were watching daily. While there was no evidence for
girls, there was evidence of pre-school aged boys becoming anti-social and violent later in life
after being exposed to as children. This study advises parents to keep careful track of what kind
of programming they are showing their children. There was no link found between educational
programs and TV shows in children, as opposed to violent television and football. In this study,
what classified a violent act, in television were scenes where the characters would choose to fight
or flee from violent situations. As well as where the characters would cheer or laugh at violent
acts. Even if this programming is designed for children, it can still be shown to be a bad
influence on their future. The study states that the best way to combat aggression and anti-social
behaviors in children is to monitor what they are watching, and to ensure that children are
watching a minimal amount of violent television. There are good options out there, such as
educational programs according to the study, but each television show should be analyzed before
In conclusion, plenty of studies have found a definite link between violence in children
and violence in video games and media. Most studies guarantee that the best way to combat this
is to limit the consumption of television and media by children in all situations. The main thing
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that these studies advise is to be aware of these pieces of violent media in general. Overall
Works Cited
"Blurring the image." Psychology Today, July-Aug. 1992, p. 13. Research in Context,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A12376255/MSIC?u=pl1949&sid=MSIC&xid=1c7e8304.
Accessed 18 Sept. 2018.
"Man allegedly acts out violent movies." UPI NewsTrack, 25 Jan. 2008. Research in Context,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A173856522/MSIC?u=pl1949&sid=MSIC&xid=f2fa7475.
Accessed 21 Sept. 2018.
"Movie Studios Limit Marketing of Violent Films to Children, September 26, 2000." Historic
U.S. Events, Gale, 2004. Research in Context,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2359030003/MSIC?u=pl1949&sid=MSIC&xid=9e785bb7
. Accessed 18 Sept. 2018.
"Video Games and Violence." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2018. Research in
Context,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2181500303/MSIC?u=pl1949&sid=MSIC&xid=0909de07
. Accessed 18 Sept. 2018.