Mass Media and Violence
" By the time the average U.S. child starts elementary school he or she will have seen 8,000 murders and 100,00 acts of violence on TV."
New Scientist, 2007
(http://www.cybercollege.com/violence.htm)
Speaking. Task 1.
Look at the pictures below and say what idea these pictures have in common.
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(The pictures are taken from
http://www.newclearvision.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/media-violence-300x225.jpg.pagespeed.ce.QEDDUpgCL7.jpg
http://studentacademichelp.blogspot.com/2012/02/media-and-violence.html)
Speaking. Task 2.
Discuss these media violence myths, opinions, and key findings revealing the impact of violent media on children: 1. Violence on TV mirrors violence in the real world.
2. Cartoon violence is okay.
3. It is okay if kids play violent video games, as long as they are not watching R-Rated movies.
(Taken from http://ce.byu.edu/cw/family/pdf/Coyne-Violence.pdf)
4. There is a causal link between the viewing of televised violence and the subsequent aggressive behavior and attitudes in children who are frequent viewers of violent episodes, ranging from preschool to late adolescence. These children are more likely to model their behavior after aggressors in the programs than those who watch infrequently, particularly when the aggressors are depicted as attractive and get away without punishment, and when there is no apparent pain and suffering on the part of the victims. Children who have few positive role models in their lives are more vulnerable than those who do.
5. Aggressive behavior and attitudes are learned at young ages and can result in
lifelong violence unless there are interventions.
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Violent behavior is a preventable problem. There is a wide availability of
broad-based programs. Reduction in media violence and access to media violence are a component of these programs.
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Frequent viewing of television violence leads to the belief that such violence
is an accurate portrayal of real life, resulting in an exaggerated fear of violence from others. Fear stemming from watching scary media may be immediate and short-term but can also be enduring.
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Prolonged viewing of filmed and televised violence can lead to emotional
desensitization toward actual violence. Because young viewers tend to identify with the perpetrator and violent episodes seldom depict pain and suffering, there is a blunting of viewers' empathy for the victims and a reduced willingness and readiness to help.
(Taken from http://www.deathreference.com/Ce-Da/Children-and-Media-Violence.html)
9. Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume that acts of violence are acceptable behavior. 10. Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real life. It can decrease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim when violence occurs.
11. Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a resultant increase in self-protective behaviors and a mistrust of others.
12. Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed.
(Taken form http://www.iianthropology.org/psychology_childrenviolence.html)
13. Media violence also has a desensitizing effect on viewers.
14. Media violence is typically unrealistic, simplistic, glorified, and even presented as humorous.
15. Long-term effects of exposure to media violence will lead to undesirable social consequences. These negative social effects will undoubtedly be accelerated as violence becomes more graphic in an effort to attract and hold film and TV audiences.
(Taken from http://www.cybercollege.com/violence.htm)
Listening.
Listen to a fragment of a radio programme about the effects of and motivations for violence in television programmes, news, video games, and movies and answer the questions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgWfLnX3U28
1. Do people who spend more time watching television tend to be more violent?
2. What is overstimulation according to the guest speaker?
3. How are media and cultural values interrelated? (Media amplify them; media are the arms)
4. Why is there so much violence in mass media?
5. How do mass media create and reinforce stereotypes?
6. Is the effect of video games and movies more significant on children than on adults?
7. Are there any factors that can mitigate the effects of media?
8. Is there any way to completely shield someone from media influence?
9. Is violence typical of fiction programmes only?
10. What other specific consequences of the cultural fear are created by mass media (except for buying more and more guns)?
Reading. Task 1.
Read the following article focusing your attention on the main problem(s) under discussion.
Special Commission on Media Violence Confirms Aggression Link,
Includes ISU Professor
(Taken from http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/08/23/violence)
As president of the International Society for Research on Aggression (ISRA) and with consent of the organization's elected council, Craig Anderson appointed an international Media Violence Commission last December to prepare a public statement on the known effects of media violence exposure, based on the current state of scientific knowledge. The Iowa State University Distinguished Professor of psychology appointed 12 ISRA researchers to the commission, including Douglas Gentile, an ISU associate professor of psychology.
The Media Violence Commission's research-based report concludes that the research clearly shows that media violence consumption increases the relative risk of aggression, defined as intentional harm to another person that could be verbal, relational, or physical. The report is published in the September/October issue of the journal Aggressive Behavior.
"Basically, the commission looked at, 'What does the research literature say?'" Anderson said. "In addition, we asked them to make some recommendations, if they chose to do so, about public policy. It really was kind of an open-ended charge."