Violence On Television Vs. Violence In The Home

People have many different points of view when it comes to the topic of violence in children. The American Psychological Association believes that child are more prone to become violent if they witness acts of violence on television. However others such as Mike Males author of "Stop Blaming Kids and TV" suggests that youth violence comes more from children seeing violence from their parents. When comparing and contrasting children seeing violence on television and children witnessing violence from their parents there are many similarities. However there are also many ways in which these two points have their differences.

The American Psychological Association feels that violence on television has an effect on today's youth. They conclude if you want to change juvenile behavior turn off the television. Psychological research has shown three effects that seeing violence on television can have on children. It states children can become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. Children could become more fearful to the world around them after seeing violence on TV. Also children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways to others.

Mike Males feels that television is not to blame with youth violence. He believes that children learn violent behavior from their parents. Some say that "if you want to change juvenile behavior change adult behavior". Children that experience such acts as domestic violence,alcoholism or drug addiction from their parents are more likely to follow in those footsteps.

There are some similarities in both these arguments because children are still witnessing violence whether it be on television or in real life. If a child is used to seeing violence as a part of their everyday life, whether it be on television or in the home the child could be more prone to acting violent toward others. This is because that is what they are used to seeing. Another similarity is that a child could become more fearful of the world around them. If a child sees acts of violence on TV such as child abuse the child could become fearful thinking that could happen to them. If a child sees abuse in real life the child could also become fearful of the world and trusting people. Children could also become less sensitive to the pain of others if they witness violence on TV or from their parents. If a child sees domestic abuse on TV they could think that behavior is normal. This is also true with seeing domestic abuse in the home with their parents. The child could think this is normal behavior so when they see it happening out of the home they could be less likely to do anything to stop the situation.

There are also many differences with witnessing violence on TV and from witnessing violence from their parents. If a child sees violence on TV they might be able to distinguish that is is fiction. This would help the child to not become fearful to the world. The child would realize what they are watching is not real. Where as if a child sees violence in real life that could make them fearful because it is reality. Another difference with knowing fiction from reality is that a child would know if a child sees violence on television they know that is fake. The child could then distinguish between right and wrong. If they see a parent acting violent and that is someone they look up to they may feel that behavior is acceptable.

In Conclusion both cases show how influential children are and how violence can have an effect on their lives. Even though both sides argue where children get violence from, they can both agree that either way violence has negative effects on children. Both sides try to blame one another for how children are influenced. However in trying to place the blame and state their differences in the end they actually pointed out many similarities of the two points.

American Psychological Association." Violence on television-What Do Children learn? What Can Parents Do?
Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Education Inc., 2007. 248-252.

Males, Mike. "Stop Blaming Kids and TV." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New Tork: Pearson Education Inc., 2007. 267-271.