Celis, Rebekah Gail C. and Laquihon, Ruth Kathryn Jayne M.

AB Mass Communication 2-A

MWF 1:30P-2:30P / C502

OUTLINE
I.

INTRODUCTION
A.
Introductory Device
(Question) Wouldchildren be shielded from the effects of media
violence?
B.
Thesis Statement
MTRCB should sanction television companies in the Philippines
that show teleseryes containing media violence because it can decrease
violent behavior and aggression in children, it will keepchildren from
becoming desensitized to violence, and it will not encourage children to
mimic morally questionable acts they see on television, however,
prohibiting children to media violence would limit the childs preparation in
facing real-life violence.

II.

BACKGROUND
A.
Media plays a big part in a childs life from all over the world (UNESCO,
1999).
1.
In a recent study by the National Council for Childrens Television
(2015), they found that an average Filipino child watches approximately
three hours of television on weekdays, and six hours on weekends.
2.
48-51% of Filipino children, from grades three to ten in the school
year 2014-2015, watch television during 5:00-7:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM
time slots(NCCT, 2015).
3.
During the 5:00-7:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM time slots, teleseryes
and adult-themed shows like news, drama, and comedy programs are
shown on TV (NCCT, 2015).
4.
Although the TV shows being watched were regulated by the
MTRCB, most of the respondents of the study said that they watch
television shows without the supervision of their parents (NCCT, 2015).
B.
According to a study conducted by the Philippine Childrens Television
Foundation (PCTVF) (2001), violence is dominant in Philippine Television shows
that are usually watched by Filipino children.

1.
In a study conducted by the PCTVF (2001), 52% of all programs
are action and adventure-themed, which contain more violence than other
programs.
2.
Violent occurrences were defined as portrayals of blatant physical
force that threatens another individual, the use of this physical force to
purposely harm an animate individual or group of individuals, and any
depiction of the effects physically harmful acts of an animate individual or
group of individuals as an outcome of off-screen or unseen violence.
(PCTVF, 2001).
3.
Thus, children watch a large number of violent incidents on
Philippine T.V. per day (PCTVF, 2001).
III.

BODY
A.
CA: Prohibiting a child to watching violent media would limit a childs
preparation for real-life violence.
1.
In a study conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (1999), children in low and high
aggression areas utilize media heroes in shows that contain aggressive
content, like Arnold Schwarzeneggers Terminator, to escape and cope
with problems.
B.
MA 1: Violent behavior and aggression in children would be decreased.
1.
Based on the Social Learning Theory of Hoffman (1996, in
Dogutas, 2013), when children are exposed to media violence, their
violent or aggressive behavior is influenced by demonstration (modeling),
reward (reinforcement), and practice (rehearsal) (p. 112).
2.
Psychologists say that when violence is exposed through media, it
stimulates aggressiveness in people (Asia Institute of Journalism and
Communication, 1998).
3.
In a study conducted by the American Psychological Association
(2003), they found out that males and females may develop aggressive
behavior as they grow older if they frequently watch violent TV shows in
their childhood.
C.
MA 2: Exposure to violent media may cause a child to become
desensitized to violence.
1.
In a report by the National Institute of Mental Health (1982),
desensitization, or the lack of logical thinking of the outcome of ones
actions, is one of the major effects of seeing violence on TV.
2.
According to a study by Krah, et al. (2011), individuals who were
frequently exposed to violent materials exhibited less cognitive responses
when shown violent clips.

3.
A recent study by Bushman and Anderson (2009) also confirmed
that exposure to violent media causes desensitization, as they observed in
their experiment that people exposed to violent media took a longer time
to respond to an injury compared to those who were not exposed to
violent media.
D.
MA 3: Children will not be encouraged to mimic morally questionable acts
they see on TV.
1.
According to psychologist Dr. Drinka (2013), when a child sees
violence used as a means to solve a problem, this lesson become [sic]
hard-wired in the central nervous system Certain behaviors are not
simply learned but neurologically fixed, and therefore hard to change
(para. 9).
2.
Cases of children mimicking morally questionable acts have been
documented in New York, Boston and Los Angeles (Schramm and Lyle,
1996, as cited in Liebert and Sprafkin, 1988).
3.
The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of
Violence (1969, as cited in Liebert and Sprafkin, 1988) said that violence
on television encourages violent forms of behavior, and fosters moral and
social values about violence in daily life which are unacceptable in a
civilized society it is a matter for grave concern that at a time when the
values and the influence of traditional institutions such as family, church,
and school are in question, television is emphasizing violent, antisocial
styles of life (pp. 65).
IV.

CONCLUSION
Evidence suggests media violence has harmful effects to childs psyche.
The researchers suggest that teleseryes that contain violence should be
sanctioned by the MTRCB. The penalties could be of the following: payment of
corresponding fines of the network responsible, termination of airing of the
teleserye, and if needed, suspension of the television network airing the
teleserye.

Celis, Rebekah Gail C. and Laquihon, Ruth Kathryn Jayne M.

AB Mass Communication 2-A
MWF 1:30P-2:30P / C502

Teleseryes with Media Violence: Its Effects for Children and Why it Should be
Sanctioned
It is undeniable that todays children are growing in a highly media-saturated
world. With easy access to television, children are exposed to the realities of the world
through media. Along with the childrens growing consumption of media, its aggressive
content also increases (Groebel, 1999). Now the question is being raised, would
children be shielded from the effects of media violence? It is time we urge the Movie
and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to sanction television
companies in the Philippines that show teleseryes containing violence. Why? It can
decrease violent behaviour and aggression in children, it will keep them from becoming
desensitized to violence, and it will not encourage them to mimic morally questionable
acts they see on television. Although there are many plausible reasons why we should
sanction these teleseryes, many still say that children should be exposed these types of
shows. They believe prohibiting a child in watching media violence would limit the childs
coping mechanisms in facing real-life violence.
Media now plays a big part in the lives of theworlds children. (UNESCO, 1999) In
a study conducted by the National Council for Childrens Television (NCCT) (2016), they
found out that the average Filipino child spends about three hours watching television
on weekdays, and six hours on weekends. The NCCT performed their study on
schoolchildren in grades three to ten. In their research, they noticed that 48-51% of

2
these children watch television during 5:00-7:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM time slots.
During these time blocks, teleseryes and other adult-oriented programs are shown on
TV. Although these programs are regulated by the MTRCB, most of the respondents of
their study said they watch TV without the supervision or company of an adult.
The Philippine Childrens Television Foundation (2001) also conducted a study
on the content of Philippine Television. They found out that violence is dominant in
Philippine TV shows that are aimed for audiences aged twelve and below. 52% of the
programs shown on TV were action and adventure-themed, which were described by
the researchers to contain more violence than other programs. TV violence was defined
as portrayals of blatant physical force that threatens another individual, the use of this
physical force to purposely harm an individual or group of individuals, and any depiction
of the effects of physically harmful acts of an individual or group of individuals as an
outcome of off-screen or unseen violence. This data shows that Filipino children watch a
large amount of violence without the supervision of adults.
Many teachers, parents, psychologists, and law-makers conferred that media
violence is something of concern, since the beginnings of television (American
Psychological Association, 2013). Still, some experts, like author Gerard Jones, say that
media violence is nothing to be concerned of, and children should not be prohibited to
watch it on TV (Terry, 2003). Prohibiting a child in watching violent media would limit a
childs coping mechanisms in facing real-life violence.
A study conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) (1999) indicated that children sometimes need aggressive
media to escape the realities they face in the environment they live in. The organization

3
surveyed children in high and low aggression areas, and found out that these children
utilize media heroes in shows that contain aggressive content, like Arnold
Schwarzeneggers Terminator, to escape and cope with problematic situations.
Although media violence is used as a coping mechanism by some children, other
children are threatened by it. Changes in their behavior, like increased aggression, may
be observed as they frequently get exposed to violent media.
Based on the social learning theory of Hoffman (1996, in Dogutas, 2013), when
children are exposed to media violence, their violent or aggressive behavior is
influenced by demonstration (modeling), reward (reinforcement), and practice
(rehearsal) (p.112). Children begin learning from others at a very young age. They
develop their motor and social skills by observing and imitating (Gentile, Saleem, and
Anderson, 2007). They have numerous models for observation as they grow and
develop. Some of these models are their family, peers, and even fictional characters
portrayed in media. For example, a child sees a superhero character being rewarded
and praised for saving the town from villains by a violent act on TV. The child would then
imitate the character, thinking that by fighting he can solve the problem and be
rewarded. In television, interpersonal conflicts are often solved by physical aggression.
Watching television without guidance may lead children to thinking that it is okay to use
violence to solve conflicts because of the success the character received after solving a
problem by a violent act (Signorielli, 2005).
In addition, psychologists say that violence exposed in media stimulates
aggressiveness in people (UNICEF & Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication,
1998). Research have shown that when people, especially children, are exposed to a

4
violent action in a film or in TV, they tend to act aggressively immediately after watching.
An experiment made by Josephson (1987, as cited in Heusmann, 2007) confirmed this.
Josephson randomly assigned 396 boys, who were aged seven to nine years old, to
watch either a violent or a nonviolent film in groups of six before playing a game of floor
hockey in school. Aggression was observed during the game. Assigned observers who
did not know what each boy had watched, recorded the number of times each boy
physically attacked another player. These attacks included hitting, elbowing, or shoving
another player to the floor, as well as tripping, kneeing, and other assaultive behaviors
that would be penalized in hockey (para. 25). The result of the experiment showed the
groups of boys who watched violent films showed more aggression than the ones who
watched nonviolent TV.
Huesmann, Moise-Titus, Podolski, and Eron (2003) conducted a research to
determine the relation between childrens exposure to violent media and the
development of aggressive behavior. In their set-up, they examined children exposed to
violent media aged six to ten, and sampled these children 15 years later. They wanted
to know the long-term effects of TV violence exposure, and if it can induce aggressive
behavior in children. As a result, they concluded that males and females may develop
aggressive behavior as they become adults if they frequently watch violent TV shows in
their childhood.
Hence, the development violent behavior and aggression is linked to TV violence
exposure.
Exposure to violent media does not only build aggressive behavior in children,
but it also desensitizes them to violence. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2016)

5
defined desensitization as to make emotionally insensitive or callous. Desensitization
may also be cognitive, or emotional. Emotional desensitization happens when an
individual, especially a child, has little or no response to a certain stimulus that should
elicit a strong reaction. Cognitive desensitization, on the other hand, exists when an
individual builds a belief that seeing violence is an ordinary phenomenon, and that it is
inherent in human nature (Funk, Baldacci, Pasold, and Baumgardner, 2004)
In a report by the National Institute of Mental Health (1982), they recorded that
one of the major effects of seeing violent media is desensitization, or the lack of logical
thinking of the outcome of ones actions. Children may no longer be aware if what the
result what they are doing is right or wrong because of desensitization due to their
exposure to TV violence.
Another study by Krah, Busching and Mller (2012) confirmed this. The
longitudinal relations between TV violence exposure and desensitization were defined in
their study. The researchers tested 1,715 students in Germany over a two-year period.
In their research, they habitually exposed their participants to clips with violence, in
data waves. The participants and their teachers were asked to record aggressive acts
they did. In conclusion, they found out that the participants, being gradually exposed to
TV violence, showed signs of violent behavior and a decrease in their cognitive
responses when shown to other violent clips.
Finally, a study by Bushman and Anderson (2009) supported claims that violent
media causes desensitization. Two studies were conducted to test the sensitivity of
those exposed to violent media to injuries. The first study involved violent video games,
while the latter was shown violent movies. The participants who were exposed to media

6
violence of both studies took a longer time to help and to respond to the injuries than
those who were not exposed to such. Thus, violent media influenced the helping
behavior and sensitivity of individuals exposed to it.
Another reason why the MTRCB must sanction teleseryes containing violence is
that it encourages children to mimic morally questionable acts they see on TV.
Children are very cognitive beings, and they easily pick-up what they see either
on television or in real-life. According to psychologist Dr. Drinka (2013), when a child
sees violence used as a means to solve a problem, this lesson become [sic] hard-wired
in the central nervous system Certain behaviors are not simply learned but
neurologically fixed, and therefore hard to change (para. 9).
There were also numerous documented instances where children mimicked what
they saw on television, which then resulted to committing crimes. Examples of such
ideas are given by Schramm, Lyle and Parker (1996, as cited in Liebert &Sprafkin,
1988, pp. 8-9):
1. A nine-year old boy from Boston told his father that he wanted to send his
teacher a box of poisoned candies, after showing him a report card with failing
marks. He explained that he once saw it on television. A man wanted to kill his
wife so he gave him a poisoned candy.
2. A six-year old boy from Boston, New York asked his policeman father for real
bullets. He said that his sister doesnt actually die when he shoots them like TV
show character Hopalong Cassidy.
3. In Los Angeles, a seven-year-old boy sprinkling glass into his familys lamb stew
was caught by a housemaid. He said he was curious, and wanted to see if it

7
worked as he saw it on television. The boy did not actually want to harm his
family.
People see violence in television shows almost every day. This constant diet of
violence has a negative effect on their character and attitudes. According to the National
Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence (1968, as cited in Liebert
&Sprafkin, 1998), violence on television encourages violent forms of behavior, and
fosters moral and social values about violence in daily life which are unacceptable in a
civilized society it is a matter for grave concern that at a time when the values and the
influence of traditional institutions such as family, church, and school are in question,
television is emphasizing violent, antisocial styles of life (pp. 65).
Hence, exposing a child to TV violence is dangerous since children cannot
distinguish if what they mimic on television is ethically acceptable or not.
Having established the effects of TV violence on children, the researchers
conclude that TV violence brings harmful effects to a childs psyche. This paper did not
only present the mental effects that exposure to TV violence has on children, but it has
also cited real-life incidents of children doing acts that are ethically questionable.
The researchers have also proved that majority of Filipino children watch
teleseryes usually without the supervision of their parents or any adult. It has also been
proved that violence is dominant in most of the programs that children watch. In
accordance with the evidence presented in the paper, the researchers strongly suggest
that shows, especially teleseryes, be sanctioned by the MTRCB. The penalties may be

8
of the following: payment of corresponding fines of the network airing the teleserye,
termination of airing of the teleserye, or if needed, suspension of the television network.
The researchers also suggest that if violent teleseryes would still be shown on
television, it should be moved to time slots when only a few or no children watch TV. It is
also recommended to educate parents or guardians about media literacy. Through
these recommendations, the researchers hope that the television networks in the
Philippines would lessen or censor the violent content in teleseryes.

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