Too much TV violence?





By: Brad Tripp

 

The television has been around since the 1920s. It wasn’t until the thirties and forties that it became popular within our society. As time has gone on, money and popular television shows have become part of a growing industry that feeds the public’s desire for entertainment.

The television industry in the United States made over $35 billion last year, and that number continues to rise. With money also comes greed, which typically includes the desire to make more money.  This cycle created the desire to produce anything to make a quick buck. What will make that fast money? It’s not always quality and/or wholesome television.

According to the American Psychology Association (APA), a 1985 mandate required television shows to inform (warn) people of the potential violence in televised programs. The information provided was that the violence caused children to become less sensitive to pain and others, along with making them act more fearful and aggressive to the world around them.  Children who watch a lot of aggressive movies or shows tend to act out or recreate the scenes of that said program, according to the APA.

A study by Dr. George Gerbner shows that an average television show today contains about 20 violent acts each hour and that children who watch a lot more of it tend to feel the world around them is more dangerous than it actually is.  In that same study, 100 preschool children were observed after watching television with violent cartoons in them and some without.  The study showed those children who watched the violent cartoons were more likely to act or lash out and other students. 

According to thinkquest.org, in 73% of all crimes committed, from theft to murder, the person who committed them was subjected to violence through cartoons and programs on television. As of last year (2012), it was recorded that in 43% of all cartoons a person committed a crime.

Not all television is evil or violent.  There are good programs that can help and keep children and adults entertained. Mainly, it’s all about paying attention and viewing programs that are good to your everyday life and preventing bad things from happening. All in all, television violence is a part of what we’re entertained by, just use with caution.