FREE ESSAY ON WHO'S TO BLAME MEDIA OR PARENTS

WHO'S TO BLAME MEDIA OR PARENTS

What has the world come to these days? It often seems like everywhere we look, violence
rears its ugly head. We see it in the streets, back alleys, schools, and even at home. In
the light of the Littleton, Colorado Columbine High shootings, the debate has grown over
how media influences children and adolescents. There are many statistics that undeniably
support the theory that media causes violence in young children. The entertainment
industry insists that their publications(including TV, magazines, Internet, etc.) are
legal, guaranteed under the First Amendment. So, who takes responsibility for the crimes
committed by juveniles. Is it the entertainment industry (for displaying conscious
violence), the government (for lack of regulation), or the parents (for lack of
control?). This paper will explore each in an unbiased view.
The Evidence 
America, the nation with the highest homicide rate in the developed world, has seen
violence soar to epidemic levels over the past several decades. During this time there
has been passionate and ongoing debate about whether there is a causal relationship
between media violence and aggression in society. Contrary to some claims, the medical,
public health, and scientific communities are in agreement that such a relationship
exists. Extensive reviews of more than forty years of scientific studies have led
researchers to conclude that the media significantly contributes to the aggressive
behavior and attitudes of children, adolescents and adults. (Donnerstein, 1993) In fact,
the 1982 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports, supporting the Surgeon
General's landmark 1972 conclusions, stated that, In magnitude television violence is as
strongly correlated with aggressive behavior as any other behavioral variable that has
been measured. (National, 1982) In 1985, the APA endorsed the Surgeon General and NIMH
conclusions that televised violence has a causal effect on aggressive behavior. The APA
joined other professional groups such as the American Medical Association, the American
Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child Psychiatry. (Donnerstein, Slaby,
and Eron, 1993) A 1990 report following a major conference, Television and Teen: Health
Implications, concluded that media violence can teach adolescents violent behavior as
well as create and maintain societal attitudes that condone violence. Constant exposure
to these depictions can also lead to emotional desensitization toward violence (Hoberman,
1990)
The television is a major source of violence. In many peoples' living rooms there sits an
outlet for violence that often goes unnoticed. It is the television, and the children who
view it are often pulled into its realistic world of violent scenes with sometimes
devastating results. John Langone has often called the television an intrusion into a
child's learning process, substituting easy pictures for the discipline of reading. He
also believed that television will essentially turn children into lumps of coal or
hypnotized non-thinkers who are just after the flashy pictures without any real intake.
(Langone, 1984) The truth about television violence and children has been shown. In a
speech before the U.S. Senate, Leonard Eron, one of the country's foremost authorities on
media and children, said:
There can no longer be any doubt that heavy exposure to televised violence is one of the
causes of aggressive behavior, crime and violence in society. The evidence comes from
both the laboratory and real-life studies. Television violence affects youngsters of all
ages, of both genders, at all socioeconomic levels and all levels of intelligence. The
effect is not limited to children who are already disposed to being aggressive and is not
restricted to this country. (Eron, L.D., 1992)
There is a general consensus in the scientific and public health fields that there are
three primary harmful effects of viewing media violence. 1) Learning aggressive attitudes
and behaviors. 2) Emotional desensitization toward real world violence. 3) Increased fear
of being victimized by violence, resulting in self-protective behaviors and mistrust of
others. (Violence, 1996) Modern media causes people to fear. It causes fear among those
who do not understand the impact of media on people's lives. (Valverde, 1995) 
In a study done in Israel, researchers tested 74 children from farms and 112 school
children from the city of Tel Aviv. The researchers found that the city children watched
far more television than that of their farmland counterparts. However, both groups of
children were just as likely to choose a violent program to watch when watching
television. Likewise, the city boys identified most with characters from violent programs
than those living on the farm. (Husemann, 1985) The facts are undeniable. The studies
have been carried out and all the results point to one conclusion: Television violence
causes children to be violent and the effects can be lifelong. 
There is also evidence that shows when parents or guardians are actively involved with
what their children watch, the content of what they choose improves. In a study done over
a two-year period by several researchers, satisfying results were found when studying the
effects of television on children. (Desmond, 1990)
Responsibility
Evidence has clearly shown that violence on television effects youth in adverse ways. So,
who takes responsibility for children's violence. Should the government take
responsibility for lack of rating control? Should we allow the government to control what
is seen on TV? Is it the fault of the entertainment industry for showing conscious
violence on televison when young impressionable minds are viewing? Is it the fault of the
parent for lacking control? Should the parent have to monitor each show? There are valid
arguments supporting and contradicting each perspective. 
Parents?
It can be said that the most important way to prevent children from watching television
violence is to stop it where it starts. The parents could step in and turn the set off
when a negative or violent program comes on. The parents are the child's role models from
which he learns. Children are great imitators, even in the earliest months of life. Given
that children are relentless in their imitation of people around them, it is logical to
conclude that they would also imitate the actions of the people they see on television
and in the movies. While imitation may be the earliest form of learning, no child becomes
a carbon copy of the people around him/her. As for the effects of media violence on
children, if imitation were the only, or even the primary form of learning, we could
predict tomorrow's headlines. (Levine, 1996) 
It is no longer enough to simply read and write. People must also become literate in the
understanding of visual images. Our children must learn how to spot a stereotype, isolate
a cliche, and distinguish facts and propaganda, analysis from banter, and important news
from coverage. (Boyer) If he/she can learn at an early age that violence on television is
bad, then he can turn the set off for himself when he/she is old enough. But who teaches
children this information? There are many debates about where education should start.
Many people believe education should start at home. Americans should not rely on
television as babysitters and should stop blaming them for the corruption of children. If
parents look to themselves and their home environment for the problems children are
facing and monitor their children's viewing, the problem will be alleviated. (Bogart,
1995) 
Entertainment Industry?
Still others willfully believe that the entertainment industry must take the initiative
to stop encouraging violence. The industry has glamorized guns, murders, and murderers.
The NRA insists guns don't kill, people do. The entertainment industry insists television
does not kill, people do, just as the last is true, so is this, except television often
provides the ideas, the social sanction, and the instruction needed to commit the crime.
Many people believe that the media executives are hiding behind the First Amendment, to
cash in on America's need for entertainment. One executive is reported as acknowledging
the excessive violence in his current film, and when asked if he let his own children
watch, his answer was, absolutely not. (Levine, 1996) There is no doubt that television
can encourage violence. However, there is doubt if the industry is responsible for the
viewers.
Government?
The government tried to regulate the broadcast system in 1970, using activists such as
Action for Children's Television (ACT) and the FCC to protect the interests of children.
Under the presidency of Ronald Reagan, the protective attitude of networks changed
rapidly. In 1984, the FCC ruled that it was time to treat networks as a business. From
that point on, broadcasting became profit driven. Government has tried to intervene
recently, but with little luck. The entertainment industry finds loopholes. So, will
total intervention from the government succeed? I guess we will never know unless it's
tried. 
Advantages of Television
It is estimated that ninety-eight percent of all the people with televisions watch the
television at least six hours every day. TV is the main source of up-to-date information
on all types of subjects. A poll done for TV Guide showed that one in four Americans
would keep their sets even if offered one million dollars. (TV Guide, 1992) There are
plenty of evils flowing from your television screen, but there can also be some very
educational and beneficial programs. Television is not a bad thing. It can be used as a
resource to educate and entertain people of all ages. Television can teach tolerance and
cooperation. It can reduce prejudice and increase helping behavior. It can introduce
children to different peoples, cultures, and ideas. Programs such as Sesame Street,
Mister Rogers; networks such as Nickelodeon, PBS, and Disney can educate, expand, and
enrich the lives of its viewers. The media can be used to develop community, to reinforce
the values of honesty and integrity, and to educate children to be citizens of the world.
These benefits can only be utilized if we as Americans realize that it is the
responsibility of all citizens, not just parents, government, or media to provide
America's children with a culturally healthy environment. 
My Suggestions
Let's pull this nation together before it's too late! Parents, the media, businesses,
corporations, government and special interest groups should all take responsibility! Why
finger point, when all of the society is to blame? I believe the problems in America
stems from our disregard for innocent life itself. America does not hold life to be
sacred anymore. Our children are confused. How can we tell them not to kill or harm each
others when our laws allow the destruction of life? In my opinion the path to a better
society is as follows 1) stop apologizing and psychoanalyzing and explaining away the
behavior of the criminal element, and simply punish them! 2) Teach our children, in every
day, little lessons, what it is to be a responsible citizen, a good person, and a
respecter of humanity, and they will be less likely to become a member of the criminal
element. 3)Lead by example. Be an inspiration to others through your intolerance of
crime, stupidity, arrogance, and ill will toward humankind. In the words of Walt Disney,
it is possible to educate entertainingly and entertain educationally.
Bibliography
References
Bogart, L., (1995) Commercial Culture, Oxford University Press, New York.
Boyer, E., (Unknown) from National Telemedia Council, Madison, WI
Desmond, R.J. Singer, J.L. and Singer, D.G., (1990) Family Mediation: Parental
Communication Patterns and the Influences of Television on Children, in J. Bryant ed.
Television and the American Family.
Donnerstein, ed, Ron Slaby and Leonard Eron, (1993) The Mass Media and Youth Aggression.
American Psychological Association. 
Eron, L.D., (1992) Testimony before the Senate Committee of Government Affairs,
Congressional Record, June 18, 1982.
Hobermann, H.M., (1990) Study Group Report on the Impact of Television Violence on
Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health Care
Husemann, L. Rowell, (1985) Social Channels Tune TV's Effects September 14, 1985
Langone, John, (1984) Violence. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. 
Levine, Madeline, (1996) Viewing Violence. How Media Violence Affects Your Child's and
Adolescents' Development.
National Institute of Mental Health Television and Behavior:(1982) Ten Years of
Scientific Progress and Implications for the Eighties (vol 1) Summary Report
Valverde, Eduardo (Feb 1995) Media the Modern Scapegoat? UNESCO Courier, P15 (1)
Violence in Television Programming Overall: (1996) University of California, Santa
Barbara, National Television Violence Study Scientific Papers Studio City, CA Media scope
(1994-1995)
TV Guide Poll (1992)