Does media violence hurt? First you would need to define what media violence is. Media violence is the movie industry making movies that show extreme and unnecessary violence. Media violence is the news channel broadcasting all the murders, kidnappings, and robberies that occurred that day at a time that allows children to view them. Media violence can hurt. It can poison the minds of children and teenagers and lead to violent behavior. It can also push the insane over the edge and lead to stalking or murder.
The American Psychiatric Association's article, "Psychiatric Effects of Media Violence" states that "Individuals with greater exposure to media violence see the world as a dark and sinister place." The APA goes on to say:.
The critical period for lasting harm from exposure to depictions of violence is pre-adolescent childhood. Children as young as 14 months model behaviors. Viewers of violent programming can come to perceive the world as more violent than it really is, and a callous attitude toward violence can emerge. Fifty percent of murder victims are between 15 and 34 years old, and 55% of those arrested for murder are under 25 years old. One third of all the violent crimes in the U.S. are committed by individuals under 21 years old. Violence and the threat of violence simply come to feel like part of the natural background of everyday life. .
The National Institute on media and the family agree that children are affected at any age, but young children are most vulnerable to the effects of media violence. Young children are vulnerable to the effects of media violence because they are easily impressionable, they have a harder time distinguishing between fantasy and reality, they cannot recognize the motives for the violence, and they learn by observing and imitating (National Institute on media). In the American Academy of Pediatrics" article "some things you should know about media violence and media literacy," they explain the affects of media violence on children.
