Violence on TV continues unabated: How concerned parents can respond

Between 1998 and 2005, the number of violent incidents on prime time network TV grew by 75%. There is now an average of 4.41 instances of violence per hour during prime time, according to a recently released report by the Parent's Television Council. Those statistics do not include the increase in violence on cable TV, which would probably drive the numbers higher.

For anyone watching TV, these numbers probably do not come as too much of a shock. However, given the plethora of studies which document the negative results of watching violent TV, it is surprising that this trend towards more violence has continued unabated.

TV violence causes short-term aggression, fear, and desensitization

TV is not so strong an influence that all children who watch will grow up to be murderers and criminals. Nonetheless, according to the American Psychological Association, they may:

o Become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others
o Be more fearful of the world around them
o Behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others
o Be less likely to see anything wrong with violence

In one study done at Pennsylvania State University, researchers observed approximately 100 preschool children both before and after watching television. Some watched violent cartoons, and others watched completely non-violent programs.

The children who watched the violent cartoons, were "more likely to hit out at their playmates, argue, disobey class rules, leave tasks unfinished, and were less willing to wait for things" than those children who watched nonviolent programs, according to Aletha Huston, Ph.D.

TV Violence causes long term aggression

Watching violence on TV may also have serious long-term consequences. According to a long-term study by Dr. Leonard D. Eron, watching television violence at age 8 was the strongest predictor of aggression 22 years later--stronger even than exhibiting violent behavior as children. The groundbreaking study statistically controlled for initial aggressiveness, intelligence, and social class.

A later study of students from the first through the fourth grade reached similar frightening conclusions. Men, who were heavy viewers of violent TV shows as children, were twice as likely as males, who were light viewers of violent TV, to push, grab, or shove their spouses and three times as likely to be convicted of criminal behavior by the time they were in their early 20s.

Women who were heavy viewers of violent programs as children were more than twice as likely as other women were to have thrown something at their spouse and more than four times as likely as other young women to have punched, beaten or choked another adult.

What's a concerned parent to do?

So, as a concerned parent, you have decided to take more firm control of your child's TV viewing. However, depending on the v-chip may not be enough. The Parents' Television Council Report also notes that the rating system for the v-chip is flawed and unreliable. If you want to help limit your child's exposure to TV violence, you will have to:

1. Regularly watch your child's favorite shows to make sure they are acceptable to you.

2. Permanently remove any TVs from your child's bedroom. It is too easy to lose touch with what your child is watching. Enterprising youngsters can often override parental controls too.

3. Cut back on the amount of time your entire family watches TV and spend that time together. Quality family time is a great antidote to disturbing TV images. It reinforces the belief that your child is safe and loved. It also helps provide a more solid moral foundation.

These seemingly small steps can make a world of difference to your child. It can set him or her on a healthier, less violent path - no matter what garbage the networks show on TV.

Sources:
http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/violencestudy/exsummary.asp
http://www.apa.org/pi/vio&tv.html
Frederick J. Zimmerman, PhD; Gwen M. Glew, MD; Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH; Wayne Katon, MD "Early Cognitive Stimulation, Emotional Support, and Television Watching as Predictors of Subsequent Bullying Among Grade-School Children." Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:384-388.